Department for Transport

Gatwick Airport: Housing

Nusrat Ghani: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the number of households eligible for the property compensation scheme proposed by Gatwick Airport Limited under the current proposal for the expansion of Gatwick Airport.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The property compensation scheme proposed by Gatwick Airport Limited consists of two elements, compulsory purchase and a voluntary purchase scheme (‘Home Owner Support Scheme’). Approximately 168 properties will be eligible for compulsory purchase compensation. The number of properties eligible for voluntary purchase will be determined by the promoters published eligibility criteria in due course.

London Airports: Noise

Nusrat Ghani: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what operational mitigation measures have been proposed by (a) Heathrow Airport Limited and (b) Gatwick Airport Limited to reduce the effect of aviation noise in the event of expansion of those airports.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Heathrow Airport Ltd. and Gatwick Airport Ltd. have published proposals on their respective websites to mitigate the impacts of aviation noise. The Government is continuing to engage with promoters for all three schemes shortlisted by the Airports Commission to develop the best possible packages of mitigation measures, including on noise.

Driverless Vehicles: Safety

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps will be taken to ensure the safety of driverless cars.

Andrew Jones: We have developed ‘Pathway to Driverless Cars: a Code of Practice for testing’ to promote the safe and responsible testing of automated vehicle technology on UK roads. It clearly and simply sets out that testers must obey all relevant road traffic laws and that test vehicles must be roadworthy; a suitably trained driver or operator must be ready, able, and willing to take control if necessary; and appropriate insurance must be in place. Alongside this we are funding research and demonstration projects and working with international regulatory bodies to develop an appropriate framework for the safe sale and use of automated vehicle technology.

Driverless Cars: Insurance

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect of the introduction of driverless cars on UK roads on levels of insurance premiums.

Andrew Jones: We know that the insurance industry is keen to recognise and reward technologies that will make vehicles safer; the latest safety features, like autonomous emergency braking, can help reduce insurance premiums. As highly automated, and fully automated, vehicle technology should help reduce collisions, we believe this should be reflected in insurance premiums.

Department for Transport: Resignations

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of officials of his Department resigned in each of the last six years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The information requested is in the table below. TIMEFRAMENUMBERS OF VOLUNTARY RESIGNATIONS% PROPORTION OF OFFICIALS (based on headcount not Full Time Equivalent Data)01/04/2015 - 31/03/20164623.301/04/2014 - 31/03/20154892.801/04/2013 - 31/03/20144282.501/04/2012 - 31/03/20133782.101/04/2011 - 31/03/20124212.301/04/2010 - 31/03/20113742.0 The Department for Transport data relates to the central department and its agencies during the timeframe indicated, Highways England are therefore excluded from the 15/16 figures.

Transport: Finance

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's current projections are for Government annual spending on the (a) Cycle City Ambition Grant, (b) Bikeability cycle training, (c) Highways England Funding, (d) Access Funds and (e) any other under the cycling and walking strategy programmes for each of the next five years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The projected budgets for the next five years for the (a) Cycle City Ambition Grant, (b) Bikeability cycle training, (c) Highways England Funding and (d) Access Funds are as follows:  ProgrammeTotal Cycle Cities Ambition grant£99mBikeability cycle training grant£50m  Highways England Fund£85mSustainable Travel Transition Year / Access Fund£80m  Much more widely, however, other Government funding streams will also contribute to projects which will deliver improved cycling and walking. Through the Local Growth Fund, an investment of at least £476m is planned by local enterprise partnerships for cycling infrastructure. From the Integrated Transport Block funding, local authorities will use £194m to invest in cycling and walking. Regarding highways maintenance, from 2018/19 the plan is to change the formula used to allocate local highways maintenance capital funding so that it also takes into account footways and cycleways as well as the roads, bridges and street lighting, which it is currently based on. Once implemented, around 9% of the funding for local highways maintenance will be based on footway and cycleway lengths and equates to £196m. In addition, a record £6bn will be spent on tackling potholes and improving local roads between 2015 and 2021, which will benefit all road users, including cyclists.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to (a) announce the criteria and (b) begin the bidding process for allocating the funding available through the Pothole Action Fund.

Andrew Jones: The Pothole Action Fund is worth £250 million over the next five years to local highway authorities in England, outside London. On 7 April the Government announced the share each local highway authority will receive from the £50 million available for 2016/17. Funding is allocated according to the size of the road network the local highway authority is responsible for. Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cash-for-councils-to-fill-almost-1-million-potholes

Walking: Standards

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy consultation document does not contain measureable targets for walking.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The draft Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy contains two objectives for walking.

Fuels: Renewable Energy

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, by what methodology his Department measures the proportion of UK transport using renewable fuels.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department of Energy and Climate Change on ensuring the Government meets its EU renewable energy targets.

Andrew Jones: The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) requires larger fossil fuel suppliers to demonstrate that sufficient renewable fuel has been supplied to meet their obligation. The obligation is set as a proportion of a supplier’s overall fuel supply by volume. Renewable fuels supplied for use in transport in the UK are also reported under the RTFO on a volume basis, in litres or kilograms. The energy content of renewable fuels used in transport is calculated using the default energy values set out in Annex III of the Renewable Energy Directive (Directive 2009/28/EC). Officials from the Department for Transport and the Department for Energy and Climate Change are in regular contact on the development of proposals to meet EU renewable energy targets, under the Directive.

Cycling and Walking: Finance

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many cycling and walking projects will be funded annually by the (a) Government's £80 million five-year Access Fund and (b) Local Sustainable Transport Fund.

Mr Robert Goodwill: In February 2016 we confirmed that the Access Fund would be preceded by a £20m Sustainable Travel Transition Year. This competition is live and I therefore cannot confirm how many projects it will support. That said, support for cycling and walking is one of the Fund’s objectives and all bids will need to demonstrate support for cycling and walking in order to secure funding. The remaining £60m will support the Access Fund, which will launch in summer 2016. I cannot confirm how many projects will be supported by the Access fund, but, similar to the Sustainable Travel Transition Year, I can confirm that support for cycling and walking will be a key funding criterion. We therefore anticipate that all successful projects will support cycling and walking in some way. The Local Sustainable Transport Fund concluded in March 2016. All 44 projects in 2015/16 supported cycling and walking in some way.

Gatwick Airport: Travel

Nusrat Ghani: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the suitability of alternative travel options for passengers and employees travelling to and from Gatwick Airport in the event that the Brighton Mainline is out of service.

Claire Perry: No formal assessment has been carried out by the Department, however Network Rail and the rail operator are required to work together in the event of disruption on the Brighton Main Line to ensure that passenger needs are catered for. Alternative travel options are put in place for planned engineering works, and these worked well during the Christmas period last year when extensive engineering work took place. The rail industry is required to have contingency plans in place for disruptive events.

Taxis: Safety

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the safety of users of private hire vehicles.

Andrew Jones: The legislation that provides for licensing of private hire vehicle services aims to safeguard passengers by ensuring that drivers and vehicles are fit for purpose. This legislation allows local licensing authorities the discretion to set standards that they deem to be appropriate for their area. To help licensing authorities set standards the Department has issued best practice guidance.

Roads: Standards

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) his Department and (b) Highways England are improving their assessments of user satisfaction in relation to the strategic road network.

Andrew Jones: The Department appointed Transport Focus (TF) as the road user watchdog and the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) as the Highways Monitor on the formation of Highways England on 1 April 2015. In addition to reporting from TF and ORR, officials regularly meet with Highways England to discuss all aspects of their performance, including customer satisfaction. TF is developing a new Strategic Roads User Survey to measure satisfaction among those using Highways England’s network with input from the Department. It is intended to pilot this throughout 2016 and then launch the new survey during 2017. This will run in parallel with Highways England’s existing National Road User Satisfaction Survey until that ceases in March 2018.

Shipping: Polar Regions

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on Scotland of the planned implementation of the Polar Code.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters as adopted by the International Maritime Organization addresses the standards and operation of ships in the Polar Regions. It is intended to provide an appropriate level of safety and environmental protection for vessels operating in these regions. No specific assessment has been made of the Code’s impact on Scotland. However, there was wide consultation with British stakeholders during the negotiation of the Code ahead of it being adopted in the IMO’s safety committee in 2014 and environment committee in 2015. The Government believes that UK ports and shipping industry are well placed to meet their obligations under the Polar Code when it comes into force in 2017, and to ensure that British activities in the Polar Regions continue to be undertaken in a safe and environmentally responsible way.

Driving: Licensing

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many full driving licences have been issued to people in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland and (c) the city of Glasgow in the last 10 years.

Andrew Jones: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) only issues licences to drivers in Great Britain. Since July 2007, 68,096,270 full driving licences have been issued to people in GB. This is the number of driving licences produced and despatched by the DVLA and includes new licences, renewals, exchanges and replacements. The DVLA does not hold statistics on the number of licences issued before July 2007 as this is when the current method of producing licences began. The DVLA only retains information about the number of full and provisional driving licences issued and does not record how many of these licences were issued by country or region. However, it is possible to extract figures from the DVLA’s drivers’ database to show the number of people who hold full driving licences for countries and regions of GB. There are 38,571,679 full driving licence holders in Great Britain, 3,205,868 in Scotland and 651,045 in Glasgow.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) merchant ships, (b) fishing vessels, (c) Port State Control and (d) other vessel surveys were conducted by Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveyors based at the Marine Office in (i) Brixham, (ii) Leith, (iii) Newlyn, (iv) Tyne, (v) Plymouth, (vi) Beverley, (vii) Orpington, (viii) Harwich and (ix) Norwich in each year since 2009-10.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The table below shows the number of vessel surveys and inspections undertaken by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in each year since2009-10:  i)Brixham* ii)LeithSurveys:2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/142014/152015/16Merchant Ships43445448422511Fishing Vessels22128513-PSC30354129212614Other3141635746235 iii)Newlyn* iv)TyneSurveys:2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/142014/152015/16Merchant Ships181173173141163164104Fishing Vessels6012511494879198PSC68204127146154144102Other26204537534640 v)Plymouth*Surveys:2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/142014/152015/16Merchant Ships243215223217205195148Fishing Vessels318462421265176105157PSC3135151116129Other891127560424053 vi)Beverley/HullSurveys:2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/142014/152015/16Merchant Ships221170141127126120108Fishing Vessels135171126182139141130PSC227237254211299230146Other1271191181051029075 vii)OrpingtonSurveys:2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/142014/152015/16Merchant Ships567504551628555564529Fishing Vessels--2561-PSC2062021721701497963Other86765662525035 viii)HarwichSurveys:2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/142014/152015/16Merchant Ships1011188682798680Fishing Vessels529039-5-2PSC9811112679597852Other4229211661516 ix)Norwich**Surveys:2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/142014/152015/16Merchant Ships----769693Fishing Vessels----228896PSC----403620Other----98141122 ix)Great Yarmouth**Surveys:2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/142014/152015/16Merchant Ships99951119714--Fishing Vessels5981776822--PSC7456605841--Other1051159912631-- * Newlyn and Brixham were sub-offices of Plymouth Marine Office; all work related to vessels was coordinated through Plymouth. ** Work coordinated from the Marine Office located at Great Yarmouth office moved to Norwich Marine Office on 16 May 2013.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) seafarers, (b) ship operators and (c) ship owners used each Marine Office in the UK in each year since 2009-10.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) maintain statistics regarding the number of surveys and inspections it carries out. However, the MCA does not collate statistics on how many seafarers, ship operators and ship owners visit each Marine Office, as contact is primarily through email and telephone. Marine Surveyors at Marine Offices carry out oral examinations as part of the final stage of issuing a Certificate of Competency (COC) to seafarers. These examinations take place at either a Marine Office or at a maritime college. The attached table provides a breakdown of this activity by Marine Office by year. This is an indication of how many seafarers visit each location.  Table: Seafarer oral examinations by Marine Office by year 2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/142014/152015/16Aberdeen12014618417816874189Belfast208182209157173310383Cardiff213328188235239152347Falmouth8717618116912393202Glasgow672730763589614758709Gr.Yarmouth/Norwich294259256318357356450Harwich202518372617160Hull11893186233288292230Leith8344544678996Liverpool938864868773905835812Newcastle/Tyne112411031156897112210451238Orpington070220194Plymouth17318415114085122271Southampton589634724712637682662Total4564476549294484480648255943

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many members of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency's Survey and Inspection team are based at the Marine Offices in (a) Tyne, (b) Plymouth, (c) Beverley, (d) Orpington, (e) Harwich and (f) Norfolk.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The table below shows the number of members of the Survey and Inspection team which are based at each of the six Marine Offices listed. Marine OfficeHeadcount(a)Tyne (includes Ensign Unit)18(b)Plymouth9(c)Beverley16(d)Orpington11(e)Harwich3(f)Norwich (Norfolk)5

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the projected savings accruing to the public purse are from the proposed closure of the Marine Offices in (a) Tyne and (b) Plymouth in 2017; and what the value of (i) land and (ii) buildings is on each site.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Both (a) Tyne and (b) Plymouth operate from leasehold properties ((i) land and (ii) building), as such the only value to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency is the cost of the lease. (a) Assuming that the office at Tyne closes in September 2017, the projected savings realised to the public purse in that year would be £50K. The projected annual steady state savings would be £103K. (b) Assuming that the office at Plymouth closes in December 2017, the projected savings realised to the public purse in that year would be £12K. The projected annual steady state savings would be £50K. Through the proposed new ways of working both Tyne and Plymouth would continue to see a surveyor presence through remote working, either within spare civil estate, such as the Marine Management Organisation or the Land Registry, or working from home depending on the operational and business need

Office of Rail and Road

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) salary, (b) bonus and (c) pension arrangements are of the current interim Chief Executive of the Office for Rail and Road.

Claire Perry: The interim Chief Executive of the Office of Rail and Road’s (ORR) full time equivalent salary is £140,000 (prorated for part-time working), which will be subject to an annual review effective from 1 April 2016. The review will be conducted by ORR’s statutory Board, and subject to the annual guidance issued by the Cabinet Office concerning Senior Civil Service pay. There are no contractual bonus arrangements. However, the Chief Executive, along with other senior civil servants at ORR, may be considered for a non-consolidated performance related payment in respect of their annual performance. Allocation of these awards at ORR is a matter for the ORR Board, subject to the guidance and constraints set out annually by the Cabinet Office for the whole of the Senior Civil Service. The Chief Executive is a member of the Civil Service pension arrangements managed by My Civil Service Pension. As required under statute, the terms and conditions of the Chief Executive’s appointment were approved by the Treasury in December 2015.

Thameslink Railway Line

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of Govia Thameslink's ability to safely transport disabled passengers; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: We expect Govia Thameslink Railway to demonstrate its ability to carry all passengers safely through its safety management system. The Office of Rail and Road issues safety certificates for passenger operators in its capacity as safety regulator and carries out any enforcement necessary for safety issues.

Thameslink Railway Line

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to make travel on the Thameslink line more accessible for disabled passengers.

Claire Perry: On the Thameslink route, the new Thameslink trains currently being manufactured will enter service later this year. The full fleet will be in service by the end of 2018. The train specification was developed to meet the latest standards and is fully compliant with accessibility standards for heavy rail (the Persons of Reduced Mobility Technical Specification for Interoperability – PRM-TSI). To aid boarding and alighting, the Thameslink Programme is providing dedicated ramps at stations and on board the trains, in addition to raised platform areas at busy central London stations that will step free from street level to the new trains. The boarding positions will be clearly indicated for disabled users.

Volkswagen

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions has he had with Volkswagen on the timeframe that has been agreed to complete software and technical fixes for all its UK consumers.

Andrew Jones: The Secretary of State has met with the Chief Executive of Volkswagen UK to press him to ensure that the technical fixes are completed as quickly as possible for UK consumers. The UK’s Vehicle Certification Agency issued the type approval for some Volkswagen Group vehicles. For these the agency is working with the manufacturer to review and approve the proposed fixes. They are carrying out tests to ensure that after the fix is applied the vehicles do not have an illegal defeat device, that they meet all the legal requirements including emissions, and that other vehicles characteristics are unchanged, including fuel consumption and engine noise.

Travel: Visual Impairment

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve the travel experiences of blind and partially sighted people; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: The Government plans to publish an accessibility action plan (AAP) to improve the travel experience of disabled people, including blind and partially sighted people. We are working with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) to assess what information should go in this publication and how to update any other Departmental guidance to make it used and useful to visually impaired people and a wide audience. We plan for the AAP to be ready for wider consultation in the summer.

M1

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the potholes on the northbound carriageway of the M1 motorway between junctions 10 and 11 to be repaired and the carriageway resurfaced; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: Highways England completed temporary surface repairs and filled nine potholes overnight on 30-31 March. They plan to carry out permanent surface repairs between junctions 10 and 11 in mid-May 2016. These will be hot patch repairs, which are just as effective as permanent resurfacing and are durable enough to last until the next resurfacing scheme. Highways England inspects the M1 between junctions 10 and 11 twice weekly, with the latest safety inspection completed on Wednesday 13 April. Highways England will continue to ensure that the M1 between junctions 10 and 11 remains safe and serviceable. This section is not due for resurfacing in the current Delivery Plan, due to the general condition being satisfactory.

West Coast Railway Line: Eddisbury

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times the West Coast Mainline through Eddisbury has been realigned due to subsidence or other geographical movement in the last five years; and what the cost of such realignment has been.

Claire Perry: No realignment work has been carried out as a result of subsidence or geographical movement on the West Coast Main line through Eddisbury in the last 5 years.

Motorcycles: Accidents

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the causes of the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured in (a) London and (b) England outside London.

Andrew Jones: The Department published a factsheet on motorcyclists in June 2015. The factsheet can be found at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/447673/motorcyclist-casualties-2013-data.pdf In addition, the tables below give the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured in a) London and b) England excluding London by the contributory factor recorded by the police for the accident. Number of killed or seriously injured motorcyclists (KSIs) in reported road accidents by contributory factor allocated, top 10: London 2014Contributory Factor reported in accident KSI casualtiesFailed to look properly323Poor turn or manoeuvre194Careless, reckless or in a hurry184Loss of control119Failed to judge other person’s path or speed112Exceeding speed limit53Sudden braking45Travelling too fast for conditions38Disobeyed 'Give Way' or 'Stop' sign or markings31Following too close26 Number of killed or seriously injured motorcyclists (KSIs) in reported road accidents by contributory factor allocated, top 10: England (excluding London), 2014Contributory Factor reported in accident KSI casualties Failed to look properly1,846Failed to judge other person’s path or speed996Poor turn or manoeuvre940Loss of control856Careless, reckless or in a hurry738Exceeding speed limit405Learner or inexperienced driver/rider386Travelling too fast for conditions348Sudden braking302Slippery road (due to weather)296 The contributory factors system has been developed to provide some insight into why and how road accidents occur. Contributory factors are designed to give the key actions and failures that led directly to the actual impact to aid investigation of how accidents might be prevented. When police officers attend the scene of an accident, they are able to select up to six factors that they believe contributed to the accident. Please note that this does not assign blame for the accident to any specific road user, but they give an indication of what the officer thought happened. Motorcyclist safety has been a longstanding priority for the Government’s THINK! road safety campaign. Previous campaigns have included ‘THINK! BIKER’, which encourages drivers to look out for bikes at junctions. This year, THINK! are running a social media led motorcycle safety campaign encouraging riders to undertake further training, wear protective clothing and reduce their speed on rural roads. This is being complemented by wider social media activity, encouraging drivers to look out for bikes.

Shipping: Exhaust Emissions

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and which (a) ministers and (b) officials he plans will represent the UK at the International Maritime Organisation conference on controlling shipping emissions.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The 69th Session of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee will be held from 18 to 22 April 2016 at the IMO, at which a number of environmental matters will be discussed, including air pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. No Ministers are attending. 14 Government officials plan to attend the committee; one from the Department of Energy and Climate Change; one from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and 12 from the Department for Transport including seven from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Aviation: Exhaust Emissions

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking in preparation for the International Civil Aviation Organisation meeting in autumn 2016 to ensure an agreement for controlling international aviation emissions; and who he plans will represent the UK at that conference.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government is working hard to reach agreement in the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on a global market-based measure to tackle aviation emissions. The UK has a seat on the ICAO High-Level Group responsible for developing a proposal on the design of the global market-based measure. We also contribute to the working groups undertaking the technical and analytical work to support the future implementation of the measure. We want this year’s 39th ICAO Assembly to take a positive decision towards the implementation of a global market-based measure from 2020 that is environmentally effective, minimises competitive distortions and is as administratively simple as possible.

East Coast Railway Line: Franchises

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has received representations from Virgin Trains or Stagecoach since 1 April 2015 on potential variations to the current Intercity East Coast franchise agreement.

Claire Perry: As with all Franchise Agreements, negotiations take place between the Franchise Operator and the Department, and since 1 April 2015 we regularly meet with Virgin Trains East Coast to discuss progress and potential changes to the Franchise Agreement.

Railways: Disability

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Enhancements Delivery Plan Update, published in March 2016, page 138, whether Network Rail carried out an equality impact assessment of the proposal to reduce Access for All funding in Control Period 5 from £135 million to £87.1 million in 2012-13 prices.

Claire Perry: The Department will undertake an impact assessment as part of our analysis and response to the Hendy Report consultation. This response is due to be published over the summer.

Cycling: Training

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2016 to Question 29382, how many Bikeability training places his Department funded in each school year between 2009-10 and 2015-16.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Bikeability training places are monitored and compiled by financial year. The table below shows the number of Bikeability training places funded by the Department for Transport in each financial year from 2009-10 to 2014-15. Figures for 2015-16 have yet to be compiled. 2009-102010-112011-122012-132013-142014-15133,984199,197293,969255,833279,358350,561

Railways: Per Capita Costs

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2015 to Question 7811, if he will update the table provided in that Answer to include figures for 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Claire Perry: The Department continues to forecast significant growth in use of rail and is constantly considering proposals for new investment which represent best value of money for the taxpayer. We are fully committed to investing in the north as part of our ambitious plans to build a Northern Powerhouse. That is why we are spending £13billion improving the region’s transport, reversing decades of underinvestment, providing better journeys and securing long-term economic growth. We are investing £22 million in improving Newcastle station and its surrounding areas, and in the next few years passengers will see improvements including more services, more capacity and the scrapping of Pacers, as well as a fleet of state-of-the-art new trains for the East Coast Mainline We are significantly investing in the West and South West of England, including electrifying the Great Western Main Line between London, Oxford, Newbury and Bristol by 2016, and extending this to Cardiff by 2017. Brand new ‘Super Express’ trains will be introduced as part of the Intercity Express Programme providing a fleet of new electric and bi-mode trains for services between London, the south west and Wales from 2016/17. In the south west, capacity improvements have been proposed around Bristol and at Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway stations. The step change seen in London spending last year is due to increased spending on London Underground, Crossrail and HS2 plus some increase in the Network Grant. This investment is needed to meet the ever increasing demand for passenger journeys into London, of which there are currently about 4 billion every year. The most recent government expenditure on rail is shown in the table below. Figures for 15/16 are not currently available and will be published in November 2016. Government expenditure on railways1 per head of population Region2014/15 North East£52 North West£93 Yorkshire & Humber£98 East Midlands£34 West Midlands£68 East of England£71 London£353 South East£69 South West£35 England£113 1 Includes expenditure on all types of railwaySource: HMT, ONS

Level Crossings

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 November 2015 to Question 13923, what recent progress his Department has made on issuing a public consultation on reforming the law on level crossings.

Claire Perry: The Department is continuing to develop its response to the Law Commission’s recommendations on the reform of level crossing legislation in conjunction with stakeholders. We expect to finalise our deliberations shortly with a view to consultation on preferred options later this year.

Home Office

Refugees: Syria

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the total cost of resettling refugees from Syria in each of the next five years; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Harrington: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 11 April 2016.The correct answer should have been:

The first 12 months of each refugee’s resettlement costs under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement (VPR) Scheme will be funded using Official Development Assistance. At the Spending Review the Government committed £129 million to assist with local authority costs over years 2-5 of the scheme.The total estimated cost of the scheme in each of the next five years is: £99 million in 2016-2017, £129 million in 2017-2018, £149 million in 2018-2019 and £83 million in 2020-2021.At the Spending Review, the Chancellor announced an estimated £460m over the spending review period to cover the first 12 months’ costs for each of the 20,000 refugees being resettled in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. He also announced an estimated £129m to assist with local authority costs for years two to five of each refugee’s stay in the UK. The cost of the scheme since inception is subject to audit by the National Audit Office as part of the finalisation of the 2015-16 Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, which are expected to be published this summer.

Richard Harrington: The first 12 months of each refugee’s resettlement costs under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement (VPR) Scheme will be funded using Official Development Assistance. At the Spending Review the Government committed £129 million to assist with local authority costs over years 2-5 of the scheme.The total estimated cost of the scheme in each of the next five years is: £99 million in 2016-2017, £129 million in 2017-2018, £149 million in 2018-2019 and £83 million in 2020-2021.At the Spending Review, the Chancellor announced an estimated £460m over the spending review period to cover the first 12 months’ costs for each of the 20,000 refugees being resettled in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. He also announced an estimated £129m to assist with local authority costs for years two to five of each refugee’s stay in the UK. The cost of the scheme since inception is subject to audit by the National Audit Office as part of the finalisation of the 2015-16 Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, which are expected to be published this summer.

Deportation

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people of each nationality are awaiting deportation.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office does not disclose country specific information regarding deportation of foreign national offenders in any public material, including Freedom of Information Requests, as its disclosure could prejudice relations between the UK and foreign governments. Parliamentary Questions are approached in the same way.

Deportation: EEA Nationals

Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2016 to Question 31329, on deportation: EU nationals, what the nationality is of the EEA foreign national offenders awaiting deportation.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office does not disclose country specific information regarding deportation of foreign national offenders in any public material, including Freedom of Information Requests, as its disclosure could prejudice relations between the UK and foreign governments. Parliamentary Questions are approached in the same way.

Asylum: Afghanistan

David Warburton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's policy is on ensuring that Afghan interpreters who have assisted British troops are able to claim asylum in the UK; and whether her Department plans to review that policy.

James Brokenshire: The Government accepts that we have a responsibility to those who have worked for the British forces in conflict zones. Many have served with distinction and at great personal risk. Separate schemes have existed since 2013 to assist interpreters previously employed by our forces in Afghanistan. These apply only to those who have remained in Afghanistan and, in recognition of their unique and exceptional service or the danger interpreters may face because of their work, can lead to relocation to the UK if certain criteria are met.There is no change to the way in which asylum claims by former interpreters with British forces in Afghanistan are considered. All claims made in the UK are individually considered on their merits in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention. Those who we accept have a well-founded fear of persecution are normally granted asylum. Those who are found not to be in need of international protection have a right of appeal to the independent courts. If all appeal rights are exhausted, they are then required to leave the UK.Government policy is however very clear that we only consider asylum claims lodged in the UK. We have no obligation to extend the asylum process to those outside the UK and cannot undertake to consider claims by individuals or groups in other countries or facilitate their journey to the UK. People who need international protection should seek protection in the first available safe country – that is the fastest route to safety.

Domestic Violence

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding her Department has allocated to fund support for victims of domestic abuse in each of the next five years; and if she will make a statement.

Karen Bradley: The Government is providing £80 million of dedicated central government funding over the course of this Parliament to tackle violence against women and girls. In 2016/17 the Home Office will continue to fund a network of Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs), Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs) and Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) co-ordinators. We will continue to fund national helplines until 2020.From April 2017 until 2020, local domestic abuse service provision will be supported through a new Home Office VAWG Service Transformation Fund, as part of the £80 million of dedicated funding. Full details of the how the fund will be administered and the criteria for applications will be published in due course.

Teachers: Migrant Workers

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review the Shortage Occupation List to ensure that the £35,000 earnings threshold for tier 2 visa holders does not lead to the loss of highly skilled teachers of subjects other than mathematics and science.

James Brokenshire: The Shortage Occupation List is based on expert advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and is reviewed regularly. The MAC’s recommendations are evidence-based and the list comprises skilled jobs where there is an identified national shortage which is sensible to fill, at least in part, through immigration. The Government is currently considering the MAC's future work programme, including commissioning a review of the Shortage Occupation List.

Immigrants: Detainees

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much compensation her Department paid for the unlawful detention of individuals under immigration powers in each of the last three financial years; for what categories of reason compensation was so paid; and how many such payments were made for each such category of reason.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



Our records indicate that over the past 3 financial years (covering 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15), that a total of £13.8 million has been paid out to 573 claimants, as per the below table. All of whom were paid compensation following a period of unlawful detention. Total Unlawful Detention Compensation payments (£ million)Number of claimants for the last 3 financial yearsFY 2012-13£ 5.0195FY 2013-14£ 4.8199FY 2014-15£ 4.0179 Caveat to provided data: This is provisional management information that is subject to change. It has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics.

Breast Ironing

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to prevent the practice of breast ironing in UK communities.

Karen Bradley: Breast ironing is a form of so called 'honour-based' violence (HBV) and this Government is clear that political or cultural sensitivities must not get in the way of preventing and uncovering practices like breast ironing. No one should suffer because of who they are or which community they are born into.As set out in the Government’s new Violence against Women and Girls Strategy, we will continue to challenge the cultural attitudes that may underpin harmful practices, and ensure professionals have the confidence to confront these issues, safeguard victims and bring perpetrators to justice.Where breast ironing is practised on girls it is child abuse and should be treated as such by all frontline professionals. The clear legal frameworks that apply to child abuse apply to breast ironing.

Inquiries

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many restriction (a) notices and (b) orders her Department has issued to restrict inquiries under (i) section 19(1)(a) and (ii) section 19(1)(b) of the Inquiries Act 2005 in each year since 2009-10 (A) in total and (B) for the Undercover Policing Inquiry.

Mike Penning: Since 2009, under section 19(2)(a) of the Inquiries Act 2005,the Secretary of State for the Home Department has issued a total of four restriction notices - two in 2014 and two in 2015. All four were in relation to the Litvinenko Inquiry.The Secretary of State for the Home Department has not issued any restriction notices for the Undercover Policing Inquiry.Under section 19(2)(b) of the Inquiries Act 2005 restriction orders can only be issued by the Chair of an inquiry.

Asylum: EU Law

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time taken was to make a final decision on take charge requests under each article of the Dublin regulations for decisions made each month since April 2015.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum: EU Law

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for  what reasons take charge requests under the Dublin regulations have been refused since April 2015.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum: EU Law

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what offers of support the Government has received from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees for the processing of take charge requests under the Dublin regulations for people resident in the camp at Calais; and what response the Government has given to each such offer.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 19 April 2016



There is regular dialogue with the UNHCR on a range of migration issues.Discussions have included Calais and the Dublin Regulation. Processing of these cases, however, remain the responsibility of the French and UK Governments.

Asylum: EU Law

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many take charge requests under each article of the Dublin regulations were (a) received, (b) accepted and (c) rejected by the Government in each month since April 2015.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum: EU Law

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many take charge requests under each article of the Dublin regulations have been (a) received, (b) accepted and (c) rejected by the Government in each year since 2010.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum: France

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many children who have applied in France for asylum or family reunion in the UK since 2012 have been admitted to the UK.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Police: Firearms

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect on the ratio of firearms instructors to police officers of the Government's policy to train an extra 1,500 firearms officers by April 2018.

Mr John Hayes: At the Spending Review in December 2015, the Chancellor announced a major investment of £143 million to uplift armed policing capacity to respond more quickly and effectively to a marauding firearms attack.The police have been working to allocate that spending to ensure maximum effect and are arranging for sufficient instructors and training places to be in place.

Police: Powers

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office of 24 March 2016, Official Report, column 209, on the Policing and Crime Bill, how her Department defines warranted in the context of warranted officers; and what assessment she has made of whether Clause 28 of the Policing and Crime Bill would give warranted powers to staff and volunteers.

Mike Penning: In the context of warranted officers and in relation to the Policing and Crime Bill, “warranted” means attested as a constable. The Bill sets out a series of reforms, endorsed in a public consultation, that will enhance the powers of chief police officers to designate police staff and volunteers with a broad range of powers or duties, other than those core powers that will be available only to constables. In making this distinction, we are underlining the central place of the constable in policing.These reforms will free up police officers to concentrate on the core policing tasks that most require their particular powers and experience, while enabling chief police officers to deploy a flexible and balanced workforce with the appropriate mix of skills and experience to keep our communities safe. We know there is demand from forces to introduce these volunteer roles – Lincolnshire, for example, have already recruited and trained volunteer Police Community Support Officers, who are waiting for this Bill to pass so they can be given powers appropriate to their roles and training.If it is acceptable to confer all the powers of a constable on one type of volunteer, namely special constables, it is inconsistent to object in principle to conferring a narrower set of powers on other suitably trained volunteers. Chief officers are best placed to decide how to shape their workforce to meet local need and the reforms in the Bill enable them to do just that.

Police: Finance

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of the grant settlement and provisional settlements for police forces up to 2019-20 on the ratio of officers to members of the public.

Mike Penning: The Government has protected overall police spending for the coming Spending Review period in real terms, when local income is taken into account. This is an increase of up to £900 million in cash terms by 2019/20. The public can be confident that over the next four years the police will have the resources they need to carry on cutting crime, fighting terrorism and keeping the people of this country safe.The proportion of police officers in frontline roles in England and Wales has increased from 89% in March 2010 to 92% in March 2015. Ultimately, decisions on the size and composition of a police force’s workforce are for individual chief officers and Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs).

Deportation: Yemen

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much the Government spent on the enforced returns to Yemen of failed asylum claimants from that country in 2014.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 19 April 2016



The Home Office has published information on the average cost of removal but this is not broken down by country or initial application type, and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/costs-involved-in-detaining-and-removing-illegal-migrants.

Deportation: Yemen

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people claiming asylum from Yemen have had that claim refused and have subsequently been removed from the UK in each of the last five years; and to which country each of those people have been removed.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Police: Voluntary Work

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy that volunteers should not be used in the operational areas of (a) child sexual exploitation, (b) serious crime and (c) counter-terrorism under proposals in the Policing and Crime Bill.

James Brokenshire: Our consultation on the reform of the roles and powers of civilians and volunteers demonstrated the demand from forces for flexibility in how they deploy volunteer staff, and therefore we should not make assumptions about the operational areas where volunteers can make a contribution. For example, they can play a hugely valuable role in supporting vulnerable victims. As Victim Support told the consultation: “enabling chief officers to designate powers to volunteers would allow them to assist police officers in supporting victims of crime and improving service delivery.”Volunteers will be subject to the same tests as police staff before they are designated with powers, namely that the chief officer must be satisfied that they are suitable, capable and adequately trained (that is, the tests set out in section 38(4) of the Police Reform Act 2002), so police forces will not be able to deploy volunteers on tasks they are not capable of performing.If it is acceptable to confer all the powers of a constable on one type of volunteer, namely special constables, it is inconsistent to object in principle to conferring a narrower set of powers on other suitably trained volunteers. Under this Bill, however, Parliament will retain control of the list of core powers that will only be available to police officers. For example, all powers under counter-terrorism legislation are listed in Schedule 7 to the Bill as core powers of police officers.These reforms will place the individual decision-making as to which personnel perform which roles firmly in the hands of chief officers, who have the professional expertise and local knowledge to know which powers are needed in their area. It is important that we do not restrict the operational powers of the police, who retain the right to deploy staff as they see fit.

Police: Firearms

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to recruit more police firearms instructors as a result of the Government's commitment to train 1,500 extra firearms officers by April 2018.

Mike Penning: At the Spending Review in December 2015, the Chancellor announced a major investment of £143 million to uplift armed policing capacity to respond more quickly and effectively to a marauding firearms attack.The Police have beenn working to allocate that spending to ensure maximum effect and are arranging for sufficient instructors and training places to be in place.

Asylum: Families

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12 April 2016 to Question 32506, how many (a) unaccompanied children and (b) partners of refugees who had already been granted asylum in the UK were granted asylum in the UK in each year since 2010.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum: Families

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12 April 2016 to Question 32506, how many stages there are in the asylum claims process prior to screening and substantive interviews; and at what stage of that process family ties to refugees already granted asylum in the UK are considered.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 19 April 2016



Screening is the first stage in the asylum process after a claim has been lodged. Each claim is considered on its individual merits, usually following a substantive interview. Consideration of a claimant’s personal circumstances such as family ties to the UK will be made following the interview.

Asylum: Families

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12 April 2016 to Question 32506, what proportion of asylum claims made by unaccompanied children of refugees who had already been granted asylum in the UK were granted in each of the last three years.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Stalking

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will take steps to support National Stalking Awareness Week.

Karen Bradley: The Government has committed £80 million to support victims of violence against women and girls, including, stalking, between 2016 and 2020. This includes funding for the National Stalking Helpline run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.We have strengthened the law by introducing new offences of stalking in 2012. In 2014-15, there were 1,103 prosecutions commenced under the new stalking offences, an increase of 50% over the previous year (2013-14).To mark National Stalking Awareness Week, we are raising awareness of the increases in prosecutions and convictions for these crimes to help improve victim confidence in the criminal justice system.Additionally, we have consulted on the introduction of a new civil Stalking Protection Order to tackle perpetrators at an early stage to help prevent victims becoming targets of a prolonged campaign of abuse. Our response to this consultation will be published in due course. Through the Police Innovation Fund, we are supporting the police to identify ways to manage the significant volume of online material in abuse, harassment and stalking cases, so that evidence can be collected more easily and a strong case built to bring a prosecution.

Police and Crime Commissioners: Fire Services

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which agreement takes precedence in areas where she has accepted a business case for the police and crime commissioner to become the fire and rescue authority, or where such a transfer is in progress, and where the Government has also agreed a City Deal that would give combined authorities responsibility over fire and rescue services.

Mike Penning: The transfer of responsibility for fire and rescue services to either Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) or mayoral combined authorities is consistent with the Government’s broader approach to devolution. Joining up oversight of public services in this way will promote further collaboration and enable local leaders to pursue ambitious reforms that improve local services and deliver value for money.The Government has been clear that it is for local leaders to determine how fire and rescue services are delivered in the best interests of their communities. The Government will consider any proposals to transfer responsibility for fire and rescue to a PCC or to a combined authority mayor on a case by case basis. There is no pre-determined order of preference.

House of Commons Commission

Parliamentary Estate: Autism

Luciana Berger: To ask the Rt. hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will take steps to secure an Autism Access Award from the National Autistic Society for the parliamentary estate.

Tom Brake: The House of Commons started work on this earlier in the year, as reported in the Head of Diversity and Inclusion’s quarterly update to the House of Commons Commission in January. The National Autistic Society has conducted its mystery shopping part of the accreditation. We are aiming to submit our evidence for the remainder of the assessment by June this year.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Palestinians: EU Aid

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what position the UK representative at the MaMa-COHAFA meeting in Brussels on 11 April 2016 took on proposals to (a) demand compensation from the Israeli authorities for demolition of structures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory funded by the EU and its member-states and (b) make the EU damages registry publicly available.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We do not comment on ongoing discussions between EU Member States in the Council, as they are confidential. However, our position on demolitions is clear: they cause unnecessary suffering of ordinary Palestinians and undermine the prospects for a two-state solution.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Resignations

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of officials of his Department resigned in each of the last six years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: In the past six years, 334 officials resigned from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. The breakdown is as follows:  ResignationsResignations as %2010/11671.4%2011/12831.8%2012/13430.9%2013/14461.0%2014/15481.1%2015/16471.1% The figures do not include staff recruited locally by our Missions overseas.

Colombia: Human Rights

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will increase its political and economic support for the UN Human Rights Office in Bogota to increase the capacity of that office to observe the human rights situation in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Hugo Swire: The UK is one of the top ten donors to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) giving £2.5m annually in global un-earmarked funding, in addition to our assessed voluntary contributions. We will also give another £1m in earmarked funding towards Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) and conflict prevention related work globally in 2016/17. I announced a contribution of £4.2m to the UN Post Conflict Trust Fund for Colombia and £1.1 for an EU Trust Fund. Both will be an important part of the multilateral effort once the peace deal is signed.

Bahrain: Technical Assistance

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department conducts ongoing appraisals of the effectiveness of the Bahrain Office of the Ombudsman of the Ministry of Interior, the Prisoners' and Detainees' Rights Commission and other bodies in Bahrain receiving UK technical assistance; and whether those assessments are taken into account when making funding decisions.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: All Foreign and Commonwealth Office programmes are regularly reviewed, and the effectiveness of projects is taken into account when making future funding decisions. This includes the technical assistance the UK has been providing to the Government of Bahrain since 2012. This assistance supports the Government of Bahrain’s reform programme including implementation of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry and UN Universal Periodic Review recommendations.

Bahrain: Technical Assistance

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which projects were funded by his Department's technical assistance budget for Bahrain in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK has been providing a range of technical, practical assistance to the Government of Bahrain since 2012, in support of its reform programme. This technical assistance supports the building of effective and accountable institutions, strengthening the rule of law, and police and justice reform. It has included work with the National Institution of Human Rights, the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman, and the Prisoners’ and Detainees’ Rights Commission.

Mohamed Ramadan

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government made to the Ombudsman of the Bahraini (a) Ministry of Interior and (b) authorities on that Ombudsman's investigation into the alleged torture of Mohamed Ramadan.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Government has raised Mohamed Ramadan’s case with the Bahraini authorities. I did so most recently when I met the Bahraini Ambassador to the UK, Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, on 8 March 2016. Embassy officials have been in direct contact with the Ombudsman, who has confirmed that whilst there have been a number of complaints raised with his office in the case of Mr Ramadan, there have been no allegations of mistreatment or torture.

Colombia: Human Rights

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Colombian counterpart on the number of human rights defenders and community leaders who have been killed in the last 30 days.

Mr Hugo Swire: I raised the issue of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) on 29 September 2015 when I met Deputy Foreign Minister Holguin of Colombia during the UN General Assembly, and in March when I met the Colombian Ambassador in London. We take every opportunity to raise our concerns with contacts in Colombia. Our Embassy officials raised our concerns with the Colombian Interior Minister and with the Presidential Advisor for Human Rights in February. The Minister of State, my noble Friend the Rt Hon. Baroness Anelay of St Johns, raised her concerns about the situation of HRDs in Colombia with the Interior Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister during her visit there last month. On 1 April, our Ambassador to Colombia accompanied the Minister of Interior to a regional Human Rights roundtable, where the role of local authorities in taking effective action on HRD cases was discussed. The UK was the only member of the international community invited to this event.

Human Rights

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is the Government's policy not to disclose the content of its Overseas Security and Justice Assistance assessments.

Mr David Lidington: Requests to release the content of Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) assessments are considered on a case by case basis under the Freedom of Information Act. However, the content of individual OSJA assessments, including candid assessments of state security capabilities and effectiveness, may be exempt from release under the provisions of the Act.

Egypt: Freezing of Assets

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Egyptian authorities ahead of the planned asset freeze trial in Egypt which could affect the activities of non-governmental organisations working in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are deeply concerned by growing restrictions on civil society in Egypt, including a proposed asset freeze against investigative journalist Hossam Bahgat and human rights defender Gamal Eid. After issuing a statement on 22 March, I raised this with the Egyptian Ambassador on 23 March and on 11 April. I encourage the Government of Egypt to work with civil society organisations to implement the rights guaranteed by the Egyptian constitution and allow non-government organisations to operate freely.

Egypt: Freezing of Assets

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions the British Ambassador in Egypt has had with the Egyptian authorities on the planned asset freeze trial in Egypt which could affect the activities of non-governmental organisations working in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are deeply concerned by growing restrictions on civil society in Egypt, including a proposed asset freeze against investigative journalist Hossam Bahgat and human rights defender Gamal Eid. The British Embassy in Cairo has been following the proposed asset freeze closely. Representatives of the British Embassy in Cairo observed the most recent hearing in the asset freeze trial on 24 March. The Ambassador raised concerns over restrictions on civil society with the Minister of Health and with senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in February 2016.

Commonwealth: Honours

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 20 January 2016 to Questions 22933, 22934 and 22935, how many of the 15 Commonwealth realms recognise UK honours as a substantive rather than honorary award; when the policy or convention in the UK of not recognising all Commonwealth realm knighthoods substantively was established; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: Whether a Commonwealth realm recognises UK honours as substantive is a matter for that realm. The protocol of not recognising the titles associated with Commonwealth realm knighthoods awarded to British nationals follows the convention established in 1813, whereby no permission is given for the use of any title associated with a foreign award given to a British national.

Falkland Islands: Argentina

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the government of Argentina on the future of the Falkland Islands.

Mr Hugo Swire: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) has made clear to President Macri that while we are keen to improve UK-Argentine relations, this does not, and will not, change our position on sovereignty or the Falkland Islanders’ right to self-determination. We shall always defend the right of the Falkland Islanders to determine their own political future.

Falkland Islands: Argentina

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to support the right of the people of the Falkland Islands to develop their own economy without interference; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Hugo Swire: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falklands and surrounding maritime areas, nor about the Falkland Islanders’ right to decide their own future. We will continue to make that clear to Argentina and other countries in the region.

Falkland Islands: Argentina

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy on the Falkland Islands of the recent decision by the UN to grant rights over waters surrounding those Islands to Argentina.

Mr Hugo Swire: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



The UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) has no jurisdiction to consider areas subject to competing claims and therefore has no locus to make recommendations in relation to the Falkland Islands. The UN itself has acknowledged that the CLCS could not consider those parts of the original Argentine submission of 2009 that were subject to dispute. This would include the Falkland Islands.

Israel: Overseas Companies

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that UK businesses that operate in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories are aware of the Overseas Business Risk guidance related to Israel.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Overseas Business Risk (OBR) service covers 106 different countries. This is voluntary guidance to British businesses, available free of charge on GOV.UK. The guidance is regularly reviewed and updated if necessary. The OBR service is routinely promoted as part of officials’ outreach work with businesses and trade promotion agencies and partners. It is the decision of an individual or company whether to operate in settlements in the Occupied Territories, but the British Government would neither encourage nor support such activity.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether equipment provided by the UK has been used to facilitate the delivery of cluster munitions by the Saudi Arabian forces in the Yemen conflict.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are aware of reports of the alleged use of Cluster Munitions by the Coalition in Yemen. We have raised this issue with the Saudi Arabian authorities and, in line with our obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, continue to encourage Saudi Arabia, as a non-party to the Convention, to accede to it.

Israel: Palestinians

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with G4S on that company's adherence to the terms of the (a) Fourth Geneva Convention and (b) UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights related to the detention of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK considers Palestinians arrested in the OPTs and detained in Israel as contrary to Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The UK Government encourages British companies to show respect for human rights in their operations in the UK and internationally and we have made this clear in meetings with G4S.

Diplomatic Immunity

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department takes to ensure claims for diplomatic immunity are authentic.

James Duddridge: Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 the sending State must make certain that the agrément of the receiving State has been given for the person it proposes to accredit as its head of mission (Article 4). The UK also requires sending States to submit the names of military, naval and air attaches for approval (Article 7). Diplomatic missions are further required to notify the receiving State of the arrival of all members of the mission and their accompanying family members (Article 10). If a foreign national resident in the UK claimed diplomatic status, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) would check whether the person’s name was on its database of foreign diplomats and their families, as notified to the FCO by the sending State. As necessary, the FCO would also seek confirmation from the relevant diplomatic mission.

Diplomatic Immunity

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many diplomatic certificates his Department has issued in the last two years; to whom such certificates were issued; and for what roles such certificates were issued.

James Duddridge: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office may be asked to produce a certificate confirming a person’s entitlement to privilege or immunity whenever required in any legal proceedings, under section 4 of the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964. Details of these certificates are not recorded centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Burundi: Peace Negotiations

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to support a peaceful resolution to violence in Burundi after the African Union's decision not to send in peacekeeping troops to that country; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: The UK remains at the forefront of international efforts to end the violence in Burundi. I addressed the Security Council and regional leaders of the Great Lakes last month, highlighting the need for urgent action. Alongside our partners in the UN Security Council, we worked to agree Resolution 2279 on 1 April which strengthens the mandate of the UN’s Special Adviser and presents the possibility of a UN police deployment to Burundi.The deployment will monitor the security situation, promote the respect of human rights and advance the rule of law.We continue to press the Government of Burundi to facilitate the deployment of 200 African Union observers, as it publicly stated it would in February. However, ending the violence in the long-term will require a negotiated solution, agreed by the Burundians themselves.I welcome the appointment of former Tanzanian President, Benjamin Mkapa, as facilitator of the East African Community led dialogue and urges all parties to engage in this dialogue without preconditions. We stand ready to support President Mkapa’s efforts to bring a halt to the violence and other human rights abuses.

Burundi: Refugees

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of refugees from Burundi on neighbouring countries; what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Uganda, (b) Tanzania, (c) Rwanda and (d) the Democratic Republic of Congo on the humanitarian situation related to refugees from Burundi; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: The UK is very concerned about the ongoing political and human rights crisis in Burundi, and the flow of refugees to neighbouring countries. Over 257,000 Burundians have become refugees since April 2015. The UK’s humanitarian response has concentrated on the region, particularly in Tanzania and Rwanda, for which we have provided £21.15 million since April 2015. We are also supporting refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda through existing programmes and the provision of technical advice. In December 2015 I visited Uganda and Rwanda where I highlighted the deteriorating situation and urged regional players to take concrete steps to find a solution. My Hon. Friend and the Department for International Development Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Nick Hurd MP visited Nyarugusu refugee camp in western Tanzania in March, and met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and donor partners. He continues to raise the plight of Burundian refugees with influential regional partners, including during his recent visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and with interested parties, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and David Miliband of the International Rescue Committee. Whilst there are no plans to make a statement at this stage, we will continue monitoring the political and human rights situation in Burundi.

United Arab Emirates: Torture

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of compliance by the United Arab Emirates with international treaties and norms on the use of torture.

Mr Philip Hammond: The British Government consistently and unreservedly condemns torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and it is a priority for us to combat it wherever and whenever it occurs. We are aware of recent allegations made against the United Arab Emirates and we have expressed our concerns to the authorities, including our expectation that all cases will be thoroughly investigated in line with international standards. During those representations the United Arab Emirates confirmed that they are committed to investigating any allegations of mistreatment. The United Arab Emirates are a State Party to the Convention against Torture.

Diplomatic Immunity

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in how many court cases diplomatic immunity was claimed in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15.

James Duddridge: A number of claims of diplomatic immunity have been advanced through the UK courts. However, statistics and details are not recorded centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Attorney General

UK Membership of EU

Holly Lynch: To ask the Attorney General, what assessment the Government has made of the use of the European Arrest Warrant as a prosecutorial tool in the event of a vote to leave the European Union.

Jeremy Wright: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the oral questions from the Hon. Member for Stalybridge and Hythe and the Hon. Member for Kingston Upon Hull North on the 14th of April 2016.

Serious Fraud Office: Disclosure of Information

Karl Turner: To ask the Attorney General, what procedures are in place to share information from the Serious Fraud Office's dedicated reporting channel with other investigatory bodies and prosecuting authorities.

Karl Turner: To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 11 April 2016 to Question 32551, how many reports from the dedicated reporting channel were passed on to other investigatory bodies and prosecuting authorities.

Karl Turner: To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 11 April 2016 to Question 32551, how many reports from the dedicated reporting channel were deemed to have enough information to warrant opening an investigation in each year since 2012.

Jeremy Wright: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is an intelligence led agency and follows the National Intelligence Model (NIM) when sharing information with law enforcement partners.Every report made to the SFO is assessed by a member of its Intelligence Unit in conjunction with other information available. The SFO passes information on to others when it has appropriate intelligence to share. This could be information from a single report, or a collated intelligence package.The vast majority of reports made to the SFO are not matters which it can investigate, and are more appropriate for the police or other agencies. Action Fraud is the UK's national fraud reporting centre. Individuals are asked to report matters directly to them so that Action Fraud can make best use of their information. They will also be given a crime report number for future reference.The table below shows the minimum number of intelligence referrals made by the SFO to other agencies which are directly referable to reports made through the dedicated reporting channel(1) since these statistics have been recorded. It also shows the number of SFO investigations opened since 2012 where the initial report to the SFO came through its online reporting system.YearNumber of referralsSFO investigations that originated through online reporting system2012Not recorded12013Not recorded220141443201515431. The SFO does not record statistical information about all types of referrals that it makes to other agencies that are directly referable to reports made through the dedicated reporting channel, so the total number may be higher.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

EU External Trade: Canada

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2015 to Question 5063, whether the text of the EU Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement will be subject to approval by Parliament once it has been laid.

Anna Soubry: The Government currently expects the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) to be a “mixed agreement” i.e. between Canada, the EU and the EU’s Member States. This would mean that the complete draft text of the agreement would be laid before Parliament for at least 21 sitting days and during this time MPs and Lords may debate the treaty and vote on the proposed ratification.CETA is an ambitious trade agreement. However, the Government has concluded that “overall a free trade agreement along the lines of EU-Canada would bring less advantageous terms for UK trade than those we currently enjoy, with particular issues for UK services losing access to the Single Market" (Paragraph 3.65, Alternatives to membership: possible models for the United Kingdom outside the European Union; March 2016).

Shipping: Pay

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on convening a cross-government and stakeholder working party on the application of the national minimum wage for seafarers; and when he expects that working party to meet.

Nick Boles: The application of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for seafarers continues to be considered by the cross-Government working group which is reviewing the implementation of the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011.The Government is working with key stakeholders through this working group to agree and finalise revised guidance on the NMW for seafarers which will be published shortly.

Minerals: Brazil

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department has taken to prevent the importation to the UK of illegally-mined gold and other mineral products from Brazil.

Anna Soubry: My Department does not have any restrictions in place on the import of alleged illegally-mined gold and mineral products from Brazil.

EU Internal Trade

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many of the EU's free trade arrangements include provisions relating to services.

Anna Soubry: The EU liberalises trade in both goods and services through WTO negotiations and bilateral and regional trade agreements. The EU’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) give the UK preferential access to 53 markets outside the EU. 27 of these markets are covered by agreements with provisions on services. These deals are valuable for the UK services sector. For example, UK services exports to South Korea grew by two-thirds (to £1.5bn) between 2011, when the EU FTA was provisionally applied, and 2013. The service sectors covered, and the degree to which they are liberalised, varies between agreements. Agreements which include services provisions are also under negotiation with partners including the United States of America and Japan. However, even the most recent EU FTA to be agreed, with Canada, offers less guaranteed access than the EU Single Market.Together with 22 other economies, the EU is also party to negotiations for a plurilateral Trade in Services Agreement to liberalise trade in services further. At the WTO, the EU offers preferential access to its services markets for the world’s poorest countries. Further information on EU trade agreements and ongoing negotiations is available on the European Commission’s DG Trade website.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Resignations

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of officials of his Department resigned in each of the last six years.

Joseph Johnson: The number of employees in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills HQ who have resigned, in each of the last 6 years and the proportion of the headcount, are shown in the table below.YearNumber who resigned% of headcount2010-1100%2011-12491.6%2012-13702.2%2013-14672.2%2014-15892.9%2015-16822.6% The number of officials who have resigned in any year is in the period April – March, whilst the % is of the headcount at 31 March in that year.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2016 to Question 27866, whether all other EEA members would be required to agree to the UK retaining membership of the EEA on a basis other than that which applies to Norway.

Anna Soubry: If the UK left the EU and sought to retain its membership of the EEA, as the UK would be changing its relationship with the EEA, the EEA Agreement would need to be modified. This would require the unanimous agreement of all EEA members.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many civil servants were employed by each agency of his Department in each location in the last year for which figures are available.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



The number of civil servants employed by each agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is shown in the attached table and represents the position as at 31 December 2015. The Department does not hold centrally any location data for its agencies prior to this date.



Attachment to 33805
(Excel SpreadSheet, 14.33 KB)

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Buildings

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the annual cost per employee is of rent, rates and maintenance for his Department's office at (a) St Paul's Place, Sheffield and (b) 1 Victoria Street, London.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



The annual cost per employee at St Paul’s Place, Sheffield is £3,190 and at 1 Victoria Street, London is £9,750.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Travel

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the annual cost is of policy staff (a) from his Department's office at St Paul's Place, Sheffield and (b) from his Department's office at 1 Victoria Street, London travelling to Sheffield.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Buildings

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the annual cost is of rent, rates and maintenance for his Department's office at (a) St Paul's Place, Sheffield and (b) 1 Victoria Street, London.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



  The annual cost of rent, rates and maintenance at St Paul's Place, Sheffield is £891,694 and at 1 Victoria Street, London is £21,363,694.

Foreign Companies: Property

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2016 to Question 27772, if he will provide that data on overseas and UK-based ownership of property for each of those areas and in each of those categories in each financial year between 1997-98 and 2015-16.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what fees the Land Registry has charged for each of the (a) statutory and (b) non-statutory functions it fulfils in each financial year since 2009-10; and how much was raised in fees (i) nationally, (ii) from registrations in London and (iii) from registrations in Hampstead and Kilburn constituency in the latest financial year for which figures are available.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many (a) mortgages, (b) leaseholds and (c) properties overall are registered with the Land Registry in (i) Hampstead and Kilburn constituency and (ii) London.

Anna Soubry: The information will take time to collate. I will place this in the Libraries of the House as soon as the information is available.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Buildings

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what process his Department will adopt for evaluating responses received to the consultation on proposals to move all policy roles to the 1 Victoria Street office in London and close the St Paul's Place office in Sheffield.

Joseph Johnson: The BIS Executive Board will take account of all consultation responses from the Departmental Trades Unions and staff when they decide whether to proceed with proposals to move policy roles to London and to close the Sheffield office.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Buildings

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the level of his Department's budget for estates after completion of the BIS 2020 change programme.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Buildings

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of potential savings to his Department's budget that will arise from reduction in headcount as a result of the closure of its Sheffield office at St Paul's Place.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Buildings

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of potential savings to his Department's budget that will arise from the closure of its Sheffield office at St Paul's Place other than by reduction in headcount.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Buildings

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what efficiency savings his Department expects to make from the closure of its Sheffield office at St Paul's Place.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Groceries Code Adjudicator

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he plans to set out a timetable for the review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator.

Anna Soubry: The Groceries Code Adjudicator Act 2013 requires the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to review the performance of the GCA every three years. The first review will cover the period up to 31 March 2016 and we will shortly be launching a public consultation as part of this. The full details of the review, including the terms of reference and timings, are still under consideration. We will announce all of this shortly.

UK Trade with EU: West Midlands

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the value of exports from the West Midlands to other EU countries was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

EU Grants and Loans: West Midlands

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much EU (a) 7th Framework Programme and (b) Horizon 2020 funding has been provided to (i) universities, (ii) other research institutions and (iii) small businesses in the West Midlands in each of the last five years.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Education: Qualifications

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how the Access to Higher Education Diploma will be funded from academic year 2016-17 onwards.

Nick Boles: From 1 August 2016, funding for learners to study an Access to HE Diploma will be as follows: learners aged 19 or over who already have a full level 3 qualification will be able to access an Advanced Learner Loan;for those aged 19 to 23 who do not currently have a first full level 3 the Skills Funding Agency will provide full funding as the individual will be exercising their level 3 entitlement. Learners with an Advanced Learner Loan for their Access to HE Diploma course, who then go on to complete a course of Higher Education, will have the outstanding balance of their Advanced Learner Loan written off. Advanced Learner Loans for Access to HE Diploma courses continue to be accessed in good numbers.

Apprentices: Taxation

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether apprenticeship levy funds will be usable to pay for qualifications embedded within apprenticeship standards.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether apprenticeship levy funds will be usable to pay for qualifications that are not embedded in apprenticeship standards.

Nick Boles: Employers will be able to use their levy funding (up to a maximum which will depend upon the standard or framework that is being trained against) to cover the costs of an apprentice’s training, assessment and certification. Apprenticeship training can either be on an apprenticeship standard, or on an apprenticeship framework. Where a qualification is a requirement for achieving the standard or framework employers will be able to use levy funds to pay for the qualification. Levy funding cannot be used to fund other qualifications.

Middle East: Arms Trade

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of expenditure earned from UK arms exports comes from exporting arms to countries in the Middle East.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of the earnings from UK arms exports in each of the last three years was derived from the export of arms to Saudi Arabia.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not hold data on earnings from UK arms exports. However, we publish official statistics on the value of defence exports, which includes data for the Middle East. Further details can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Taxation

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate her Department has made of the extent of tax evasion and tax avoidance in the global south.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID has not made an estimate of the extent of tax evasion and avoidance in the global south due to a lack of reliable data.The UK has been an international leader in efforts to tackle tax evasion and tax avoidance since the UK’s G8 Presidency in 2013. A key part of DFID’s work in this area is to ensure that developing countries can partake in and benefit from international initiatives to challenge tax avoidance and evasion.

Africa: Development Aid

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect on Africa's development needs of the recent downward revision of economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa by the World Bank.

Justine Greening: Our assessment highlights a mixed picture: the slowdown in aggregate economic growth for SSA is dominated by a few large economies affected by the fall in commodity prices (e.g. Nigeria), but growth remains robust among some other DFID priority countries (e.g. Tanzania). DFID’s programme and policy support to African countries is designed to address the economic and human development challenges these countries face.

Developing Countries: Overseas Companies

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate her Department has made of the amount of profits moved out of developing countries by UK-listed companies in each of the last five years.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The Department for International Development does not collect this data.

Israel: Palestinians

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many structures funded in the Occupied West Bank through the EU Consortium have been demolished by the Israeli government since 1 January 2016.

Mr Desmond Swayne: None of the structures constructed under the EU multi-donor programme for social and public infrastructure in Area C have been demolished to date.

Israel: Palestinians

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2016 to Question 30955, what the financial and other practical implications are of the UK joining the EU Consortium to support the construction of small-scale infrastructure in Area C.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK has allocated £900,000 for the development of basic social infrastructure in areas which have an outline plan in the approval process, through an EU multi-donor programme. We continue to urge the Government of Israel to develop improved mechanisms for zoning, planning and permitting in Area C for the benefit of the Palestinian population, including by facilitating local Palestinian participation in such processes.

Developing Countries: Overseas Companies

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on making tax information of UK-listed companies available to developing countries.

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the introduction of measures for country-by-country reporting of profits for UK-listed companies.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID Ministers and officials have regular discussions with other Government Departments on a wide range of issues relating to international development, including tax.The UK supports efforts to improve tax transparency. We initiated international work on country-by-country (CbC) reporting during our G8 Presidency in 2013, calling on the OECD to develop a framework for CbC reporting to tax authorities as part of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project. This important initiative will enhance transparency between business and tax authorities, including those of developing countries.The UK leads international efforts to help developing countries tackle tax evasion and avoidance. DFID funds the Global Forum and the World Bank to provide technical assistance to improve exchange of tax information in developing countries which will allow tax authorities to gain access to information such as country-by-country reports. We also support the OECD in helping developing countries tackle multinational practices such as transfer pricing and have provided HMRC tax auditors to Tax Inspectors Without Borders, which puts expert tax auditors in the field working on complex multinational audit cases.

Middle East: Overseas Aid

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much UK aid has been spent on programmes to support (a) children who have been conscripted as child soldiers by Daesh, (b) other children who have been held in captivity by Daesh and (c) women and girls who have been held in sexual slavery by Daesh.

Mr Desmond Swayne: We are very concerned about appalling crimes committed by Daesh in Iraq and Syria, including against women and young children. We strongly condemn their use of sexual slavery, sexual violence, rape and kidnapping. Likewise, we have seen reports of children in Daesh-held areas being forced into military training after the militant group closed down their schools - leaving an estimated total of over 670,000 children without the opportunity of a proper education.In Syria and Iraq, DFID continues to work with the UN and the international community to ensure all civilians’ rights are protected. However, we do not earmark our aid as being solely for Daesh victims or victims of other groups. The UK is committed to supporting the most vulnerable people wherever they are, in accordance with international humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, independence and impartiality. Consequently all UK funded humanitarian assistance is distributed on the basis of need, and need alone, regardless of politics, religion, ethnicity or place of origin.The UK has pledged over £2.3 billion for the response to the Syria crisis. Some of this funding is enabling partner agencies to provide specialist assistance to those affected by sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including safe spaces, psychosocial support, cash assistance and reproductive healthcare. By June 2015, UK assistance had provided SGBV focussed interventions to over 197,000 individuals in Syria and the region. In addition, more than 673,000 children have been reached with child protection initiatives across Syria and the region.Ultimately, the best way of safeguarding these children is by defeating Daesh and establishing a lasting peace in both Syria and Iraq. The UK Government is committed to this aim: we have a comprehensive strategy for defeating Daesh and continue to work with our international partners and the UN towards a political settlement in Syria.

Israel: Palestinians

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2016 to Question 30873, what EU ECHO-funded structures have been demolished in the Occupied West Bank since 1 January 2016; and what the cost was of each demolished structure.

Mr Desmond Swayne: 140 of the structures demolished in Area C from January to March 2016 were funded by international donors. This includes structures funded by EU ECHO and other Member States. We do not have the data broken down by individual Member States.

Egypt: Non-governmental Organisations

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Egyptian government's restrictions on domestic non-governmental organisations on her Department's effectiveness in that country.

Justine Greening: The UK Government is concerned by growing restrictions on civil society in Egypt and continues to make a positive case that the presence of a dynamic civil society is in Egypt’s interest.We work with a range of partners in the country including the World Bank, private sector and including some NGOs and we will continue to ensure that work remains effective.

Overseas Aid

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to page 169 of the Office for Budget Responsibility's report, Economic and fiscal outlook March 2016, to which partners the £800 million loans will be disbursed in 2016-17; what assessment she has made of the comparative utility of loans and grants for effective development projects; how repayments of those loans will affect the level of recorded Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend; and what assessment she has made of the effect of the growing proportion of capital departmental expenditure limits (DEL) ODA spend and a declining proportion of resource DEL ODA spend on her Department's effectiveness.

Justine Greening: DFID is planning to invest around £400m in loans in 16/17 rather than the £800m figure erroneously reported in the Office for Budget Responsibility figures. The precise breakdown of those loans has not been finalised.

Middle East: Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Government response to the International Development Committee's Third Report of Session 2014-15, UK's development work in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, what progress she has made on providing support from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund to people-to-people projects in Palestine involving people of all faiths.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK has supported several people-to-people projects through the Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) which have now come to an end. We are open to considering further support through the CSSF for strong co-existence projects that bring Israelis and Palestinians together, where these would deliver a positive impact, represent value for money, and follow the requirements for how CSSF funds may be used.

Burundi: Refugees

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much the Government has contributed to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' appeal for the Burundi humanitarian response in 2016; what steps she is taking to encourage international partners to contribute to that fund; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Nick Hurd: The UK is very concerned about the ongoing political and human rights crisis in Burundi, and the flow of refugees to neighbouring countries. DFID has contributed £21.15 million in Tanzania and Rwanda towards the UNHCR regional refugee response plan since April 2015 to support shelter, food, healthcare and livelihoods assistance for Burundian refugees. The 2016 Burundi Regional Refugee Response Plan was published in January and appeals for $313.8 million to support 330,000 refugees in Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC and Uganda. DFID is currently reviewing the 2016 allocation to this appeal and intends to release further funds in coming months. DFID is also supporting refugees in the DRC and Uganda through existing programmes and the provision of technical advice. DFID has deployed a humanitarian adviser to the region in support of the response and to monitor funding provided so far.DFID officials across the region are working closely with national and international counterparts – including UNHCR, the EU, World Bank, NGOs and other donors – to ensure that humanitarian needs in Burundi and the region are met. We are encouraging developmental donors in Burundi to re-programme funds quickly to maintain the basic functions of the state – such as health centres – and working with the international financial institutions (IFIs) to respond to the growing needs and develop programmes that support the resilience of existing systems.The Humanitarian Response Plan for Burundi was published in March 2016 and appeals for $62.3 million to support 1.1 million people. DFID is currently reviewing a potential contribution to the appeal, and is undertaking contingency planning should the situation deteriorate.DFID continues to monitor the situation closely with the FCO, and liaises regularly with interested and influential parties such as the Archbishop of Canterbury, in order to pressure the international community to act and focus attention on the crisis.

Department for Education

Pupil Premium: EEA Nationals

Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many school-aged pupils there are with at least one parent who is a national in another EEA member state in households with a total income within the threshold for pupil premium eligibility.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Pupil premium eligibility in 2015/16 is based on whether pupils are known to have been looked after by the local authority; have left care through adoption, a special guardianship, child arrangements or residence order; or if a pupil has been registered as eligible for free school meals at any point in the last 6 years. It is not determined through a household income threshold.

Pupil Premium: EEA Nationals

Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 March 2016 to the hon. Member for St Albans to Question 30490, on pupil premium, if she will estimate the number of children eligible to receive pupil premium funding with at least one non-UK EEA national parent in each year since 2011-12.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Department does not collect data on the identity or characteristics of individual pupils’ parents (including details of parental nationality), so cannot offer a meaningful estimate of the number of pupil premium pupils with at least one parent who is a non-UK EEA national.

Academies

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2016 to Question 31449, what the main components are of the expenditure that her Department incurs when a school converts to an academy.

Edward Timpson: The main expenditure incurred relates to the pre-opening start-up grants that are currently available to schools. Currently, grants are intended to be a contribution to the costs of conversion incurred by schools in establishing the academy. These may include legal fees, costs associated with transfer of land, transfer of software licences, Human Resources and Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 advice and setting up the Academy Trust. Grants to schools that become sponsored academies also include an element to support school improvement such as leadership support, teaching and learning interventions, pupil focused interventions, curriculum redesign and staff restructuring.

Adoption Leadership Board

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many times the Adoption Leadership Board has met since its creation in 2014.

Edward Timpson: As of 14th April 2016, the Adoption Leadership Board has met 11 times since its creation. Information about the Adoption Leadership Board is readily available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adoption-leadership-board-quarterly-data-reports. Information can also be found on the website of the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies.

Local Safeguarding Children Boards

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department plans to publish the Local Safeguarding Children Board review.

Edward Timpson: The independent review of the role and functions of Local Safeguarding Children Boards, undertaken by Alan Wood, has been submitted to the Secretary of State for Education, and will be published in due course.

Pupils: Autism

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that all teachers in England are able to understand and respond to the needs of pupils with an autism spectrum disorder.

Edward Timpson: The Department has contracted with the Autism Education Trust since 2012 to deliver autism training to education staff. To date, the Trust has trained over 90,000 education staff. This training will continue to be funded in 2016-2017 to a value of £750,000. The contract extension with the Autism Education Trust will build on previous grant funding from the Department for two other projects (2013-16): a project by the National Autistic Society to provide information and advice to parents and professionals on exclusions and a project by Ambitious about Autism on strategies for supporting transition from school to college. Our support also includes the National Association for Special Educational Needs’ Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Gateway (www.sendgateway.org.uk).This offers education professionals free, easy access to high quality information, resources and training for meeting the needs of children with SEND, including those with autism. The Department has also funded National Association for Special Educational Needs (2015-16) to develop a free universal offer of SEND Continuous Professional Development for teachers. The National College for Teaching and Leadership has produced a series of specialist online courses, one of which focuses on autism. The training materials are designed to support teachers in mainstream schools who want to improve their skills in teaching pupils with SEND. The training materials can be found at: www.education.gov.uk/lamb. In order to be awarded qualified teacher status, trainees must satisfy the Teachers’ Standards, which include a requirement that they have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND, and are able to use and evaluate distinctive teaching approaches to engage and support them. Following Sir Andrew Carter’s independent review of the quality and effectiveness of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses, the Secretary of State appointed an independent working group made up of expert representatives from the sector to develop a framework of core ITT content. The working group includes two SEND experts and will consider Sir Andrew’s recommendations on the SEND content of the proposed framework. The group is expected to report to DfE in spring 2016.

Academies

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has published on academy schools and their entitlement to run consultancy businesses alongside the educational function of the school.

Edward Timpson: The Department’s Governance Handbook states that:“An academy trust’s Articles of Association set out its ‘object’ and the powers that it may exercise to further that object. These powers include the power to establish or support any charitable companies or trusts formed for the trust’s object and to set up subsidiary companies to carry on any trade or business to raise funds for the trust.” The Department’s Governance Handbook is available on GOV.UK at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/governance-handbook The model Articles of Association also require that the trust’s income and property shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the trust’s charitable objects. The Charity Commission provides guidance for charities on trading activity on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/trustees-trading-and-tax-how-charities-may-lawfully-trade-cc35/trustees-trading-and-tax-how-charities-may-lawfully-trade.

Free Schools: Special Educational Needs

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many free schools with a special educational needs focus were graded as (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) requires improvement and (d) requires special measures in each year since 2010.

Edward Timpson: The Ofsted grades of all special free schools are set out in the below table. Please note that the first special free schools opened in September 2012 and therefore there were no Ofsted inspections of these schools until 2014.Published report date201420152016Outstanding11 Good22 Requires Improvement 1 Inadequate  1 A list of all open special free schools can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-schools-open-schools-and-successful-applicationsOfsted reports for all schools in England can be found at: http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/

Pupil Referral Units: Special Educational Needs

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of pupils enrolled in Pupil Referral Units have (a) Statements of SEN for children and Learning Difficulties Assessments for young people with special educational needs and (b) Education, Health and Care plans.

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of pupils in alternative provision facilities have (a) Statements of SEN for children and Learning Difficulties Assessments for young people with special educational needs and (b) Education, Health and Care plans.

Edward Timpson: The latest school census data shows there were 13,585 pupils in Pupil Referral Units, alternative provision academies and free schools in January 2015. Of these, 1,565 (11.5%) had statements of special educational needs or Education, Health and Care plans.This information is published in ‘Special educational needs in England: January 2015’ (Table 1A): https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england-january-2015The alternative provision census covers pupils attending a school not maintained by a local authority for whom the authority is paying full tuition fees, or educated otherwise than in schools and pupil referral units, under arrangements made (and funded) by the authority.The latest alternative provision census shows there were 20,503 pupils in these settings in January 2015. Of these, 16,038 (78.2%) had statements of special educational needs or Education, Health and Care plans.The total number of pupils in local authority alternative provision is also published on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015. (At Table 1b.)Analysis of the data suggests some schools have recorded some or all of their pupils who were previously recorded as ‘statement’ as ‘EHC plan’ regardless of whether a formal needs assessment (transfer review) has been completed and a final EHC plan issued. Because of this, we have presented combined figures for pupils with a statement and those with an EHC plan.Learning Difficulty Assessments apply in Further Education colleges only and information on these is not collected in the school census or the alternative provision census.

Adoption

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much each local authority in England has received from the Adoption Support Fund since its creation.

Edward Timpson: The table below shows how much each local authority in England has received from the Adoption Support Fund since its creation:LAASF Total Spend to Date (£) Barking and Dagenham44,196.20Barnet166,813.26Barnsley29,235.00Bath and North East Somerset40,261.47Bedford81,340.50Bexley70,451.00Birmingham160,325.87Blackburn with Darwen81,696.80Blackpool57,601.98Bolton55,920.00Bournemouth28,727.76Bracknell Forest21,444.10Bradford309,173.00Brent (prev Herts)43,973.00Brighton and Hove123,200.90Bristol199,771.70Bromley12,314.00Buckinghamshire205,907.10Bury70,376.30Calderdale102,775.50Cambridgeshire251,323.18Camden93,988.70Central Bedfordshire88,479.91Cheshire East184,035.96Cheshire West and Chester151,425.46City of London-Cornwall260,491.05Coventry66,094.00Croydon37,369.65Cumbria362,150.10Darlington25,810.00Derby58,166.80Derbyshire301,734.86Devon458,850.32Doncaster182,252.82Dorset19,004.00Dudley77,882.90Durham145,119.27Ealing (prev Herts)387,675.71East Riding of Yorkshire147,132.67East Sussex374,962.27Enfield95,085.44Essex276,241.07Gateshead8,984.00Gloucestershire1,213,955.86Greenwich91,407.75Hackney165,218.00Halton32,759.50Hammersmith and Fulham35,313.56Hampshire244,384.30Haringey203,142.10Harrow (prev Herts)57,459.50Hartlepool17,631.96Havering1,170.00Herefordshire58,998.20Hertfordshire293,849.02Hillingdon (prev Herts)8,301.84Hounslow (prev Herts)5,640.25Hull116,738.65Isle of Wight36,944.00Isles of Scilly-Islington78,032.34Kensington and Chelsea18,535.01Kent367,991.20Kingston56,034.14Kirklees294,390.30Knowsley30,508.70Lambeth75,001.00Lancashire440,242.16Leeds199,474.72Leicester105,823.75Leicestershire189,426.69Lewisham139,396.50Lincolnshire109,876.35Liverpool50,392.10Luton19,413.60Manchester263,742.75Medway113,923.40Merton121,835.40Middlesbrough24,273.84Milton Keynes129,924.42Newcastle upon Tyne132,122.00Newham29,051.00Norfolk472,360.80North East Lincolnshire169,037.20North Lincolnshire3,603.50North Somerset82,103.50North Tyneside61,443.20North Yorkshire612,921.58Northamptonshire209,503.74Northumberland28,498.90Nottingham172,346.00Nottinghamshire97,291.97Oldham20,030.50Oxfordshire34,818.65Peterborough51,391.02Plymouth221,433.97Poole13,321.38Portsmouth77,709.42Reading26,652.00Redbridge54,632.80Redcar and Cleveland16,840.00Richmond320,954.40Rochdale61,243.50Rotherham201,774.40Rutland-Salford89,485.40Sandwell26,059.00Sefton29,383.92Sheffield300,284.78Shropshire92,774.00Slough16,578.00Solihull247,751.00Somerset144,238.40South Gloucestershire90,356.73South Tyneside86,296.60Southampton42,207.80Southend-on-Sea69,489.25Southwark264,437.46St. Helens17,909.80Staffordshire248,092.20Stockport37,947.87Stockton-on-Tees42,182.60Stoke-on-Trent131,143.67Suffolk390,301.42Sunderland165,319.14Surrey302,995.50Sutton52,715.00Swindon58,167.50Tameside127,575.59Telford and Wrekin-Thurrock21,901.60Torbay51,134.40Tower Hamlets16,004.00Trafford59,046.76Wakefield260,394.68Walsall30,730.00Waltham Forest5,552.00Wandsworth273,035.42Warrington63,546.60Warwickshire344,023.10West Berkshire40,060.00West Sussex400,439.03Westminster38,383.88Wigan30,686.85Wiltshire69,687.65Windsor and Maidenhead59,604.50Wirral8,334.40Wokingham51,360.90Wolverhampton63,073.60Worcestershire201,224.60York188,133.45TOTAL 19,892,053.92* Shropshire provides Telford and Wrekin's Adoption Service* Leicestershire County Council provides Rutland's Adoption Service* Cornwall make applications on behalf of the Isles of Scilly* City of London have had no adoptions from care during the relevant period.

Free Schools

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of the 22 new free schools announced by her Department on 5 February 2016 are being sponsored by trusts and chains which currently run schools which have an inadequate Ofsted rating.

Edward Timpson: Twenty two free school applications were approved as part of Wave 10, which was announced on 5 February 2016. One of the approved applications has a sponsor (South Gloucestershire and Stroud College) which also sponsors The Forest High School, judged by Ofsted to be inadequate in May 2015. However, the inspection was conducted only two months after the trust was asked to take over the academy and since then Ofsted has assessed the academy to be taking effective action towards the removal of special measures. The trust is working in partnership with an outstanding special school to establish the free school.

Free Schools

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of the 22 new free schools announced by her Department on 5 February 2016 will be located in but not adjacent to planning areas where there will be a need for additional school places by September 2017.

Edward Timpson: Of the 22 new free schools announced on 5 February 2016, 17 are mainstream schools for which basic need in the areas was assessed. Five of the 22 schools are not mainstream schools, so have been excluded; basic need does not apply in their application. Of these 17 schools, 13 are in planning areas where there is projected to be a need for places in September 2017. When assessing both the basic need for places in the local area and the standards of local schools, we define local schools as those that fall within the ‘straight-line’ distance of the proposed free school location within which at least 80% of the pupils in the area travel to school (at the relevant phase). This is intended to act as a proxy catchment area for the new free school. The local area is then defined as the planning areas in which these local schools are situated. Of the 17 schools, 15 have need for 2017 and one has need beyond 2017.

Academies: Finance

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 22 March 2016 to Question 30916, for what reasons related party transactions by academy trusts can be classified as irregular or improper by the Education Funding Agency.

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 22 March 2016 to Question 30916, if she will publish details of the 26 related party transactions by academy trusts classified as irregular or improper by the Education Funding Agency.

Edward Timpson: Related party transactions by academy trusts can be classified as irregular or improper if they are not dealt with in accordance with Parliament’s intentions, legislation, the terms of the trust’s funding agreement, the Academies Financial Handbook or the trust’s internal procedures. This includes spending money other than for the purposes intended by Parliament or without the appropriate standards of conduct. Academy trusts operate under a robust accountability system which holds them to account for the results they achieve and their use of resources. This includes a requirement to publish audited accounts each year allowing the wider public the chance to hold academy trusts to account to help make sure that spend is securing better outcomes for pupils. The 26 related party transactions are irregular and noted in the table below (together with our findings from reviewing 2013/14 financial statements). It is important to note that irregular classification can occur where there is insufficient evidence to form an opinion. Concern typeSummary of concernNumber of breachesAt costThe trust either confirmed that services from a related party were not provided at cost or there was insufficient evidence of this.5Off-payrollThe trust confirmed that they were not compliant with HM Treasury’s off-payroll requirements for a senior member of staff.5ProcurementThe trust confirmed they did not follow an adequate procurement process for certain purchases from a related party.6Procurement issues/ recruitment of familyThe trust confirmed they did not follow an adequate procurement process for certain purchases from a familial related party.1Procurement/ at costThe trust confirmed they did not follow an adequate procurement process for certain purchases from a related party. The trust also either confirmed that services from a related party were not provided at cost or there was insufficient evidence of this.9

Students: Transport

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department last reviewed its statutory guidance on post-16 transport to education and training.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



The statutory guidance for local authorities on post-16 transport was updated in February 2014 following the implementation of Raising the Participation Age (RPA). It was last reviewed in February 2016 and was found to be still up-to-date; there are no immediate changes planned to the guidance.

Primary Education

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March  2016 to Question 31440, on primary education, how many (a) head teachers, (b) teachers and (c) union representatives her Department worked closely with during the introduction of those reforms.

Nick Gibb: The Department works with teachers, head teachers and unions in developing education policy; our assessment reforms are no exception.The assessment reforms which take effect this summer follow two public consultations in 2013 and 2014. Our primary school assessment and accountability consultation, running from July to October 2013, received 1,187 written responses, including 320 teachers, 324 head teachers and 21 union or professional organisations. We also held discussions at a series of events and conferences alongside this. In 2014, our consultation on performance descriptors for statutory teacher assessment, running from October to December 2014, received 880 responses.All assessment materials produced by the Standards and Testing Agency are developed in close collaboration with teachers. Teachers were involved in the initial creation of the new test model and are involved at three key points during the development of every new test. Teachers will also be involved in setting the expected standards.We have listened to the concerns of teachers, head teachers and unions as the reforms have been introduced. In response we have given teachers more time to submit teacher assessments and published a ‘clarification’ document to guide schools through the new arrangements.We also set up two expert groups involving serving and former teachers to advise the Department on aspects of assessment, including the Commission on Assessment Without Levels and the Rochford Review of Assessment for pupils working below the standard of national curriculum tests.We will continue to listen to the concerns of teachers and their union representatives as the details of the new assessment arrangements are finalised.

Children's Play: Special Educational Needs

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the conclusion in the report from Sense, entitled Making the case for play, published in February 2016, that a misguided interpretation and approach to health and safety is creating a barrier to accessing play settings and activities for children with multiple needs.

Mr Sam Gyimah: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given on 11 April to PQ 32244, which I have also set out below:The government recognises that play is essential for children’s development and this is covered in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework. Play has an important role in supporting all young children to develop and prepare for later learning, and the EYFS is clear that “practitioners must consider the individual needs, interests, and stage of development of each child in their care… to plan a challenging and enjoyable experience for each child in all of the areas of learning and development.” Health and safety should not create a barrier to accessing play activities for children with multiple needs.The staff working in early years settings as Early Years Educators (level 3) and Early Years Teachers (graduates) are required to have an understanding of different pedagogical approaches, including the role of play in supporting early learning and development. The criteria for the Early Years Educator and standards for Early Years Teacher Status qualifications are set by the department. However, it is the responsibility of early years settings to provide play opportunities for their children and pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).Ofsted conducts a regular cycle of inspection to ensure that provision meets the required quality and safety standards and assesses the extent to which the learning and care provided by the setting meets the needs of the range of children who attend, including the needs of any children who have SEND.As you may be aware, the Childcare Act 2016 expands the free childcare entitlement from 15 to 30 hours for three- and four-year-olds of working parents. As part of the Early Implementer Package announced on Tuesday 2 February, local authorities involved will be using the opportunity to test and showcase how childcare can be delivered in a way that improves access for children with SEND. The department also launched a consultation on 3 April seeking views on key elements of the operation and delivery of the 30 hours and we specifically welcome views on provision for children with SEND. The consultation is available at: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/30-hour-free-childcare-entitlement.

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of Justice: Insurance Companies

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what (a) written and (b) other contacts he or Ministers in his Department had with senior executives at (a) AXA UK, (b) Ageas UK, (c) General Insurance, (d) Direct Line Insurance and (e) Admiral Insurance between 1 September and 26 November 2015.

Dominic Raab: There was no written or other contact between any Ministry of Justice Minister and senior executives at (a) AXA UK, (b) Ageas UK, (c) General Insurance, (d) Direct Line Insurance and (e) Admiral Insurance between 1 September and 26 November 2015. Details of all Ministerial meetings are included in transparency returns which are published quarterly on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/moj-data-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-returns-october-to-december-2015.

Personal Injury: Compensation

Christina Rees: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 1.143 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, how the Government defines the term claims culture.

Dominic Raab: The government remains concerned about the number and cost of whiplash claims which are out of all proportion to any genuine injury suffered. The Autumn Statement referred to the cost to society of the substantial industry that encourages claims through cold calling and other social nuisances and which increases premiums for consumers.

Courts and Tribunals: Digital Technology

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, how much of the £700m fund for updating the technology on the courts and tribunals estate was spent prior to October 2015.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The five-year £700m modernisation programme of the courts and tribunals, will build a justice system that is swifter and more certain. This programme incurred expenditure of c.£10.2m for the six months to end September 2015.

Social Security Benefits: Kettering

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 16 December 2013, column 507W, what the updated figures are for the latest period available.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The average waiting time from receipt to disposal for all Social Security and Child Support appeals between October and December 2015 (the latest period for which figures are available) was 19 weeks nationally and 15.9 weeks in the Kettering venue.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance he has issued to HM Courts and Tribunals Service on minimum standards for keeping appellants updated of future court dates and waiting times for those dates.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Tribunal Procedure Rules require HMCTS to notify appellants of their hearing date, time and place upon listing. If there is any change to a hearing date, such as a postponement or adjournment, HMCTS issues a further notice in writing to confirm the change. If an appellant has any questions or concerns about their hearing date they can contact the Tribunal via the HMCTS Contact Centre.

Immigration: Appeals

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what monitoring his Department undertakes of waiting times for immigration appeal hearings.

Mr Shailesh Vara: HMCTS regularly monitors waiting times for immigration and asylum appeal hearings across the UK. They are considered monthly by the HMCTS Board and the Ministry of Justice Executive Committee. Tribunal Statistics, including average waiting times for appeals, are published quarterly by the Ministry of Justice. These can be viewed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics

Immigration: Appeals

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time was for an immigration appeal hearing in HM Courts and Tribunal service in each of the last five years.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The average waiting time (in weeks) from receipt of an appeal to first hearing for all case types in the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) in each of the last five calendar years was:14 in 2011;14 in 2012;20 in 2013;25 in 2014; and24 in 2015.

Ministry of Defence

Gliding

Sir David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether officers in gliding schools who are over 65 years of age and have A2* training qualifications or above will be allowed to undertake staff continuation training in the same way as similarly qualified staff aged 65 years old or younger.

Mr Julian Brazier: In accordance with Military Aviation Authority (MAA) regulations, pilots over the age of 65 may not operate an aircraft, except with strict restrictions. Therefore, A2* category Gliding Instructors aged 65 or over cannot undertake staff continuation training in the same way as similarly qualified staff below the age of 65.The relevant MAA regulation (Regulatory Article 2135(3)) states that:Pilots shall not operate an aircraft once they attain the age of 65 unless the aircraft is fitted with dual controls and is operated with a second pilot who has not yet attained the age of 65. Furthermore, the second pilot shall hold an appropriate qualification and MES (Medical Employment Standard) entitling him to act as pilot in command.

Saudi Arabia: Hawk Aircraft

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the (a) first and (b) last Hawk jet is scheduled to be delivered to Saudi Arabia; and how many (i) RAF personnel, (ii) RAF personnel seconded to BAE and (iii) BAE personnel will be involved in the Hawk jet training programme in that country.

Mr Philip Dunne: The first two of 22 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers ordered by the Royal Saudi Air Force in May 2012 were delivered to Saudi Arabia on 06 April 2016. The remaining aircraft are scheduled for delivery by mid-2017. The RSAF agreed to purchase a further 22 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers in December 2015, but the arrangements for the delivery of these aircraft have yet to be finalised. There are 40 personnel contracted to BAE Systems providing Hawk flying training in Saudi Arabia, including one individual seconded from the RAF.

Military Aircraft

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Boeing Poseidon P-8s acquired by the UK will be compatible with the MQ-4 Triton UAV.

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Boeing Poseidon P-8s acquired by the UK will be equipped with an (a) magnetic anomaly detector, (b) APS-143C rear mounted radar, (c) APS-153 advanced airborne sensor, (d) AN/APY-10 radar and (e) advanced airborne sensor.

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Boeing Poseidon P8s acquired by the UK will use Mk 54 torpedoes.

Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 April 2016 to Question 33058 to the hon. Member for Barrow and Furness (John Woodcock).



33508 - QnA extract on Maritime Patrol Aircraft
(Word Document, 14.77 KB)

Air Force: Gliding

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of the (a) reduction in the number of gliders available for Air Cadet forces, (b) reduction in the number of gliding induction courses and (c) closure of 14 volunteer gliding squadrons on the operations and activities of air cadet squadrons across the UK.

Mr Julian Brazier: When the in-depth audit of glider engineering found that both the Vigilant and Viking aircraft fleets failed to meet the airworthiness standards required and all Air Cadet gliding had to be suspended as safety is paramount in all flying activity, it was essential that the RAF explored options for the future of glider experience flights, together with future fleet size and location. As a result of this work, and after substantial operational, technical and commercial negotiations with a range of leading aerospace companies, it became apparent that repair of all the existing Viking and Vigilant fleets was not economically sustainable. In particular, there was no reliable contractor able to take on a large scale refurbishment of the Vigilant fleet.The reduced glider fleet will operate at fewer, but larger, regional Volunteer Gliding Squadrons. Where Cadets have to travel longer distances investment is being increased to provide good quality residential accommodation. There will also be an uplift in Tutor aircraft, for powered flying from 45 to 70, and the formation of two additional Air Experience Flights, as well as the provision of 25 part task trainers.The Air Cadet Organisation are developing their courses, which centre on a common syllabus focusing every single flight on training rather than providing a passenger experience, be that in the air with gliding and powered flight or through synthetic training on part-task trainers funded by the RAF Charitable Trust. The redesigned courses provide a Cadet flying training structure like that used by our future RAF Typhoon and Lightning II pilots. Cadets will learn basic flying skills from an early point in their Air Cadet careers starting with ground school lessons and realistic synthetic training on part task trainers, building flying experience. This smart use and integration of synthetic flying during the early stages alongside powered and glider flying means that the Air Cadet of the future will once more have aviation opportunities unmatched by any other National Cadet Force worldwide.

Puma Helicopters

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when a Wire Strike Protection system will be fitted to the Puma helicopter; and when (a) Initial Gate and (b) Final Gate approval was granted for that project.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Helicopter Safety Enhancements Programme has been coordinating provision of Wire Strike Protection Systems (WSPS) across the UK military helicopter fleet. Initial Gate approval was granted in August 2012 and Final Gate approval was granted in March 2013. The Puma Mk2 WSPS entered service in June 2015; fleet embodiment of WSPS continues and is expected to be complete by the second quarter of 2017.

Nuclear Submarines: Iron and Steel

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to source steel for the construction of new nuclear submarines.

Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 April 2016 to Question 33828 to the hon. Member for Islington South and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry).



33828 - Trident Subs - Iron and Steel
(Word Document, 14.53 KB)

Single Source Regulations Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on recruiting a permanent chair of the Single Source Regulations Office; and when he expects the new chair to be in place.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many single source contracts his Department placed in 2015; and how many such contracts were classed as (a) new contracts and (b) amendments to existing contracts.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) new contracts and (b) amendments to existing contracts placed by his Department in 2015 were not referred to the Single Source Regulations Office because the approval of the (i) Ministry of Defence and (ii) supplier was not granted.

Mr Philip Dunne: Each year the Ministry of Defence (MOD) publishes an analysis of all new contracts which sets out whether they were placed competitively or non-competitively. This analysis appears in the Department's Statistical Bulletin Trade, Industry and Contracts and the most recent period for which data is available can be found through the link below. Table six in the excel tables and page 11 of the pdf refer to the relevant information.https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-industry-trade-and-contracts-2015Figures for amendments to existing contracts are not held centrally and, due to the large number of such cases, an analysis could be provided only at disproportionate cost.All single source procurement contracts which met the criteria set out in Part two of the Defence Reform Act 2014 (DRA) are subject to the new single source procurement framework, apart from a very small number which have been specifically exempted from the framework by the Secretary of State for Defence, using the powers granted to him under section 14(7) of the DRA. The Department does not release details of these exemptions in order to avoid influencing future decisions.Contracts which were signed prior to the new single source procurement framework coming into force can become subject to the regulations on amendment by agreement between the MOD and the contractor. To maximise the benefits from the regulations, the MOD intends to seek such agreement where appropriate, except where there are well founded commercial or practical reasons not to. However, the Department does not hold a central record of the number of contracts which have, on amendment, not been converted to Qualifying Defence Contracts, and the data could be provided only at disproportionate cost.Contracts which fall under the Regulations are only referred to the Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO) when there is a disagreement between the supplier and the contracting authority which cannot be resolved through negotiation between these two parties. The subjects that can be referred to the SSRO are set out in the DRA, and include whether or not costs are allowable, attributable to the contract and reasonable. Should a referral be made by either the MOD or the supplier, the consent of the other party is not required. One such referral was made in 2015, by the MOD.The MOD is currently pursuing the recruitment of a Chair for the SSRO. The SSRO has an Interim Chairman in post and the Department plans to advertise this substantive position shortly.

Aircraft Carriers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the construction and procurement of HMS Prince of Wales and the accompanying aircraft for both Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The construction, test and commissioning of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS PRINCE OF WALES continues in Rosyth. Around 80% of the structure of HMS PRINCE OF WALES has been built, and she will be structurally complete this summer. Aircraft will continue to be purchased incrementally, as part of a coherent build-up of capability, and we remain on track to deliver an Initial Operating Capability in the Carrier Strike role from 2020.

Ministry of Defence Police

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total (a) budget for and (b) full-time equivalent workforce of the Ministry of Defence Police was in each of the last six years.

Mark Lancaster: The total budget and full-time equivalent (FTE) workforce of the Ministry of Defence Police was as follows in each of the last six Financial Years (FY). FTE Complemented numbers MDP*NUCS**FY 2010-113,661433FY 2011-123,645480FY 2012-132,729351FY 2013-142,708253FY 2014-152,690254FY 2015-162,666227  End of Year Budgets (millions)FY 2010-11154.8FY 2011-12140.8FY 2012-13138.8FY 2013-14135.3FY 2014-15136.2FY 2015-16133.1 * Ministry of Defence Police Officers** Non Uniformed Civilian Staff

Ministry of Defence Police

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ministry of Defence Police stations there were in each of the last six years.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Ministry of Defence Police officers were deployed to support civilian police forces in each of the last six years.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) do not have any designated police stations as defined by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.The MDP work collaboratively with Home Office forces, Police Scotland and Police Service Northern Ireland in locations where the force is deployed.The MDP has regularly collaborated to provide support to national police operations. However the information requested will take time to collate and I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Armed Forces Covenant: Northern Ireland

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 prevents the full implementation of the Armed Forces Covenant in Northern Ireland.

Mark Lancaster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 January 2016 to Question 22174 to the hon. Member for Belfast East (Mr Robinson).http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2016-01-12/22174/



22174 - Armed Forces Covenant Northern Ireland
(Word Document, 14.93 KB)

Veterans: Mesothelioma

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when compensation payments to veterans with mesothelioma caused by service were commenced.

Mark Lancaster: The Government has continuously made compensation available under the War Pension Scheme for injuries, illness or disease caused by service before 6 April 2005, including mesothelioma.The War Pension Scheme provides veterans with mesothelioma with the maximum award paid on a weekly/monthly basis and additional supplementary allowances and, where appropriate, entitlement to dependant's benefits.Following representations from ex-Service organisations and others, on 11 April 2016 a new legislative provision was introduced under the War Pension Scheme, this allowed individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma to opt for a lump sum payment of £140,000.The first lump sum payments under the new provisions were made on 11 April 2016.

Department for Work and Pensions

Attendance Allowance

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that people who qualify for attendance allowance have been made aware of that scheme and of their eligibility for it.

Justin Tomlinson: Attendance Allowance (AA) is available to those who have long term care or supervision needs that arise from age 65 onwards. The Department is committed to encouraging older people to take up the benefits they are entitled to and goes to considerable lengths to publicise benefits. Information is available from the Department's offices; advice agencies, including local authorities. Information about all benefits and how these may be claimed is readily available on the GOV.UK website, or through the DWP Information Line. Information for welfare rights advisers, available on GOV.UK, includes specific detailed benefits information; this same information is used by Decision Makers in DWP. Additionally, the Department’s National Partnerships Team works with customer representative organisations, both nationally and locally, to provide a wide range of advice and support for older people. Over 300 of these partner organisations operate as an Alternative Office, taking and verifying Attendance Allowance claims on behalf of the Secretary of State. And for those unable to access services through other channels, a visiting service is available to help with information and claims.

Work Programme: North West

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in (a) the North West, (b) Lancashire and (c) Pendle have found lasting work through the Work Programme.

Priti Patel: The information held by the department relates to the number of Work Programme job outcomes by various geographies and this can be found at:http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html Guidance for users can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance

Children: Maintenance

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is on the consideration by the Child Maintenance Service of any evidence which would be admissible in a court or in a Tribunal as to the work status of a non-resident parent and place of work including posts made on social media.

Priti Patel: The Secretary of State will consider any evidence provided in relation to any element of a Maintenance Calculation when making a new liability decision, or reconsidering an existing one.

Children: Maintenance

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff are employed in the Financial Investigation Unit of the Child Maintenance Group.

Priti Patel: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave the Hon. Member for Brighton Pavilion on 29 February 2016 to Question UIN 27465.

Children: Maintenance

Antoinette Sandbach: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many prosecutions have been undertaken by the Financial Investigation Unit within the Child Maintenance Group in each financial year since 2012; and how many civil actions have been taken by the Financial Investigation Unit in cases where there is not sufficient evidence to justify a criminal prosecution to recover funds owed to Parents with Care in that time.

Priti Patel: Child Maintenance Group’s Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) was established on 1 April 2014. During the year 2014/15, the FIU initiated 65 criminal prosecutions and also enabled civil enforcement action on 1,697 cases, collecting a total of £528,201. During the year 2015/16, the FIU initiated 70 criminal prosecutions and also enabled civil enforcement action on 1,424 cases, collecting a total of £581,217.

Children: Maintenance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much of the £31 million of child maintenance arrears written off in 2014-15 was written off under each of the ground in the Child Support Management of Payment and Arrears (Amendment) Regulations 2012.

Priti Patel: The circumstances of the £31 million of child maintenance arrears written off in 2014-15 is shown in the table below: Circumstance2014/15 write off (£m)The person with care has requested that the Secretary of State ceases to act in respect of the arrears6.5A child in Scotland has requested that the Secretary of State ceases to act in respect of the arrears0.0The person with care, or (in Scotland) the child, has died3.0The non-resident parent died before 25 January 2010 or there is no further action that can be taken with regard to recovery of the arrears from the non-resident parent’s estate19.8The arrears relate to liability for child support maintenance for any period in respect of which an interim maintenance assessment was in force between 5 April 1993 and 18 April 19950.1The non-resident parent has been informed by the Secretary of State that no further action would ever be taken to recover those arrears0.2Other1.3 NotesThe figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand.The circumstance ‘Other’ includes amounts written off following Secretary of State and client part payment, £0.5m, arrears written off which were due to the Secretary of State, £0.2m and adjustments to arrears balances which have transitioned to the 2012 Child Maintenance system, £0.6m.

Children: Maintenance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Policy, Law and Decision Making Guidance used by Child Maintenance Service caseworkers when making decisions on the application of Section 137(2)(b) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and the unlikely to be paid test.

Priti Patel: The Department is currently revising the Policy Law and Decision Making Guidance, so it is not appropriate to make it publicly available at this time.

Children: Maintenance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects to lay before Parliament the results of the 30-month review required under Section 141 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 of the effect of the Child Support Fees Regulations 2014.

Priti Patel: The department has a statutory obligation to complete the 30 month review of the impacts of charging by 31 December 2016. Outcomes of the review are expected to be published in spring 2017.

Universal Credit

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with other Government departments on how supported housing will be funded under universal credit.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department is working jointly with the Department for Communities and Local Government to develop a workable and sustainable funding solution for Supported Housing. An evidence review is underway which will inform a subsequent policy review, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including Government Departments and devolved administrations.

Work and Health Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the effect on annual spending on (a) employment support by non-government providers and (b) Jobcentre Plus of the introduction of the Work and Health Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of working couples who in 2020-21 will be eligible for universal credit and who will receive more if they are living apart than if they are living together; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Unemployment: Young People

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Youth Obligation can be extended beyond six months for a participant who is not work-ready at the end of that period.

Priti Patel: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a bedroom which is currently unusable pending repairs by a social landlord is included by his Department in its assessment of whether a household under-occupying accommodation.

Justin Tomlinson: This is a matter between the claimant and the landlord and we would always advise claimants in this situation to contact their landlord in the first instance. Some landlords may choose to reduce the rent whilst the bedroom is uninhabitable others may not. The reduction that applies for under-occupation depends on whether the rent has been reduced to reflect that the property temporarily has one less bedroom.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Gambling

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the progress made by bookmakers in reducing gambling-related harm.

David Evennett: This Government has been clear with the whole gambling industry that they are expected to demonstrate they are continuously improving player protection initiatives and evaluating the effects of previous initiatives. The Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) revised its social responsibility Code of Conduct in 2015. On 6 April the industry also launched the multi-operator self-exclusion scheme, which allows customers to self-exclude from all bookmakers at once.In January, we published the Evaluation of Gaming Machine (Circumstances of Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2015, which can can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-gaming-machine-circumstances-of-useamendment-regulations-2015. We are considering the findings of the evaluation before deciding if there is a need for further action.

Responsible Gambling Trust

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what links his Department has with the Responsible Gambling Trust.

David Evennett: The Responsible Gambling Trust is an independent charity that raises funds from industry to spend on research, education and treatment for problem gambling. In developing its programme of activities, it takes into account priorities set by the Gambling Commission’s advisory body, the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board. The Department considers the findings of the Responsible Gambling Trust’s research alongside other evidence on gambling related harm. Officials from the Department and from the Gambling Commission have attended meetings of the Responsible Gambling Trust’s research committee, and Trustees board meetings, as observers.

Betting Shops: Staff

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the role of betting shop staff and their recognition of excluded customers in the betting shop multi-operator self-exclusion scheme.

David Evennett: The Betting Shop multi-operator self-exclusion scheme came into force across the whole betting sector on 6 April following successful pilots in Chatham, Glasgow and London. Self-exclusion is an important harm minimisation tool designed to provide greater protection to players who require assistance to manage their gambling. The Gambling Commission will continue to assess how well self exclusion schemes are being delivered.

Mass Media: Legal Costs

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to issue a commencement order to bring into effect Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013.

Mr Edward Vaizey: No decision has been taken regarding commencement of section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013. The matter is still under consideration.

Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press Inquiry

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government intends to proceed with Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Criminal proceedings connected to the subject matter of the Leveson Inquiry, including the appeals process, have not yet completed. We‎ have always been clear that these cases must conclude before we consider Part 2 of the Inquiry.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Local Government Finance

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 2 of Budget 2016, whether the £3.5 billion savings to public spending to be achieved by 2012-20 will affect the four year funding settlement to local councils announced by his Department in December 2015.

Mr Marcus Jones: While the Government has not yet completed its departmental efficiency review to help identify further savings in 2019-20, we expect the four year allocations confirmed in the final settlement on 10 February 2016 to be the amounts presented to Parliament each year, should councils choose to accept the offer.We look forward to councils publishing efficiency plans by 14 October 2016 that demonstrate how the greater certainty on offer can bring about opportunities for further savings. However, if councils prefer not to have a four year settlement we cannot guarantee their future levels of funding.We have been clear that funding allocations in 2019-20 may be subject to the implementation of 100% business rate retention, something councils have asked for over decades and which we are working with the sector to deliver.

Small Businesses: Non-domestic Rates

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how he plans that the section 31 grant to compensate councils for the extension of small business rate relief will be funded.

Mr Marcus Jones: By raising £8 billion through a package of measures to counter tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning by multinational enterprises, Government has been able to announce in the Budget a £6.7 billion reduction in business rates. This is the biggest ever cut in business rates in England. The funding for these section 31 grants was provided for in Budget 2016 through the Budget scorecard (lines 15-17). This additional funding is included in the DCLG Local Government DEL budget figures on page 91 of the Budget Report.

Non-domestic Rates: Academies

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the potential effect on business rate revenue of converting all schools to academies.

Mr Marcus Jones: Holding answer received on 13 April 2016



Loss of business rates income to local authorities under the existing 50% business rates retention scheme will be considered under the new burdens doctrine. This assesses how much new policies will cost local authorities and how they will be funded.

Roads: Planning Obligations

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether Section 106 contributions for highways infrastructure works can be used to pay for (a) the costs of administrative, legal or design work or general highways maintenance works required prior to the installation of highways infrastructure works and (b) other associated overhead costs incurred by the local highways authority or its contractors.

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, in the event that the actual cost of a Section 106 highway infrastructure scheme exceeds the previously estimated and agreed contribution, (a) what options exist for making good that shortfall, (b) whether the local authority or the developer is liable for any additional costs and (c) whether Section 106 contributions originally allocated for other schemes may be reallocated to cover such costs.

Brandon Lewis: It is for the local planning authority to determine what is required and seek planning obligations through a Section 106 agreement in order to make a development acceptable in planning terms. There are three statutory tests that need to be applied when considering a planning obligation, that it is: necessary to make the development acceptable in planning terms; directly related to the development; and fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the development.Developers may be asked to provide contributions for infrastructure in several ways. This may be by way of planning obligations in the form of Section 106 agreements but can also include contributions through payment of the Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 278 highway agreements.It is for local planning authorities to decide what provisions they make in Section 106 agreements, and agree these with the interested parties, and therefore any liabilities would depend on the individual agreement. Local authorities and developers can renegotiate planning obligations by mutual agreement at any time or under Section 106A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. However, Local planning authorities are expected to use all of the funding they receive through planning obligations in accordance with the terms of the individual planning obligation agreement. This is to ensure that new developments are acceptable in planning terms; benefit local communities and support the provision of local infrastructure.

Roads: Planning Obligations

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what procedures are in place to ensure that (a) town councils, (b) parish councils and (c) local communities have the opportunity to influence how Section 106 contributions for highways infrastructure works are spent within their areas.

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether regulations are in place to ensure that (a) town councils, (b) parish councils and (c) local communities have access to itemised expenditure on any associated administrative, legal, design, preparatory or maintenance works associated with individual highways infrastructure works within their areas on which Section 106 contributions have been spent.

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether regulations are in place to ensure that (a) town councils, (b) parish councils and (c) local communities receive regular updates from highways authorities about (i) the sum total for Section 106 contributions for highways infrastructure works promised and delivered within their areas each year and (ii) a breakdown of expenditure on individual works within their areas.

Brandon Lewis: Section 106 agreements are negotiated and agreed between a local planning authority and a developer and/or landowner along with other interested parties in the land, such as mortgage providers. National planning policy makes clear that Section 106 requirements, modifications and discharges should be transparent and available for inspection.Local planning authorities are expected to use all of the funding they receive through planning obligations in accordance with the terms of the individual planning obligation agreement. This is to ensure that new developments are acceptable in planning terms; benefit local communities and support the provision of local infrastructure.Planning decisions should be based on Local Plan policy unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Representations from interested third parties may constitute material considerations. Town councils, parish councils and local communities can influence infrastructure and other considerations in Local Plans through the consultation process.The Community Infrastructure Levy was introduced to provide a faster, fairer and more transparent approach to collecting developer contributions toward infrastructure. The Government launched a review of the Levy in 2015. This review will consider a range of issues, including the relationship between the Levy and Section 106 planning obligations.

Departmet for Communities and Local Government: Resignations

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of officials of his Department resigned in each of the last six years.

Mr Mark Francois: The number of a) resignations and b) proportion of officials resigning in my department in each of the last 6 years was as follows:2010-11a) 53b) 2.7%2011-12a) 39b) 2.1%2012-13a) 37b) 2.1%2013-14a) 44b) 2.6%2014-15a) 42b) 2.5%2015-16a) 44b) 2.6%

Housing Associations: Performance Standards

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what powers he has to intervene with under-performing housing associations.

Brandon Lewis: If the Housing Association is in England and registered with the Homes and Community Agency (HCA), they would have to ensure that they meet the regulatory Standards. However, the Secretary of State has no statutory power to intervene with under-performing Housing Associations.If the Social Housing Regulator finds that a registered provider has failed to comply with the Standards, it has enforcement powers to ensure compliance with the standards.

Fracking

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will update national and planning policies to (a) account for shale operations and (b) introduce buffer zones between shale developments and local communities.

James Wharton: The National Planning Policy Framework and supporting guidance sets out a comprehensive approach to planning for shale gas extraction in England. Planning guidance includes the use of buffer zones in the determination of planning applications for hydrocarbon extraction, including from shale. This states that above ground separation distances are acceptable in specific circumstances where it is clear that, based on site specific assessments and other forms of mitigation measures (such as working scheme design and landscaping), a certain distance is required between the boundary of the minerals site and the adjacent development.

Retail Trade: Vacancies

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the high street vacancy rate was in (a) England and (b) each region of England in each of the last six years.

Mr Marcus Jones: My Department does not collect or publish data relating to high street vacancy rates. There are several commercial sources of shop vacancy rates data available, including the Local Data Company and Springboard, (http://info.localdatacompany.com/vacancy-rate-report-h1-2015-summary-download) who publish overall trends in the public domain.

Health Services: Social Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the principles to underpin reform in the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health report from the Independent Mental Health Taskforce to the NHS in England, published in February 2016, what steps his Department plans to take to integrate care spanning people's physical, mental and social needs.

Mr Marcus Jones: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



The Spending Review set out an ambitious plan so that health (including mental health) and social care are integrated across the country by 2020. My Department is working closely with the Department of Health and others on delivering this ambition. Every part of the country must have a plan for achieving integration in 2017, implemented by 2020.The Government has provided a package of support of up to £3.5 billion to ensure councils are able to support some of their most vulnerable residents. This includes an extra £1.5 billion funding through the improved Better Care Fund, which will continue to bring together funding and services across health and social care to support the provision of integrated care for vulnerable people.

Department for Communities and Local Government: Advertising

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of running events promoting local authority devolution deals in each of the last three years.

Mr Mark Francois: The Department has not paid for any events specifically promoting devolution deals over the past three years.

Department for Communities and Local Government: Hotels

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the cost of hotel bookings for (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) civil servants of his Department was during the negotiation processes for local authority devolution deals in each of the last three years.

Mr Mark Francois: Ministers, special advisers and civil servants in this department undertake a variety of visits to support the delivery of Government’s devolution and local growth objectives. We do not hold figures for the costs incurred for visits specifically supporting the negotiation of devolution deals in the format requested and this can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Communities and Local Government: Travel

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many (a) flights, (b) rail journeys and (c) taxi journeys were taken by (i) Ministers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) civil servants of his Department during the negotiation process for local authority devolution deals in each of the last three years; and what the total cost was of each of those types of journey.

Mr Mark Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 April 2016 to Question 34017.

Fracking: Planning Permission

Michelle Donelan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government has taken to ensure that local communities are consulted when planning applications for shale gas extraction sites are made.

James Wharton: Any local resident can make representations during a formal period of consultation before any planning application for shale exploration is determined.

HM Treasury

Young People: Finance

Holly Lynch: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure young people are not disproportionately affected by reductions in government expenditure.

Damian Hinds: The Government published distributional analysis to accompany Budget 2016 which shows that spending is focused towards households with children and young people, who will receive around £1,500 more per person per year in 2019-20 than working age households without children or young people.

Shipping: Pay

Richard Burden: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received about possible revision of the seafarer's earnings deduction incentive.

Mr David Gauke: The Chancellor has not recently received any specific representations about possible revisions to the seafarer’s earnings deduction.

Tax Evasion

Chris Stephens: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employees of HM Revenue and Customs are employed to investigate tax evasion; what the estimated amount was of tax evasion in 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) more than 26,000 (FTE) strong enforcement and compliance workforce of risk and intelligence analysts, compliance officers and fraud investigators tackle the full range of compliance risks ranging from hidden economy to the wealthy. Last year, they collected and protected a record £26 billion from compliance activities, contributing towards the UK's highest-ever tax take of £518 billion. The most recent year for which tax gap figures are available is 2013/14. HMRC estimates that £4.4 billion of it relates to tax evasion. HMRC allocates resources in a flexible manner, so that it meets individual business needs. The Government has made additional resourcing of up to £10 million a year available for the creation of a new taskforce. Its purpose will be to swiftly obtain and analyse the Panama papers, and take rapid action where there is evidence of any wrongdoing and regulatory breaches. The taskforce will look beyond tax into all potential areas of financial crime and other regulatory breaches. It will be jointly led by HMRC and the National Crime Agency. Information on the structure and organisation of HMRC is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrcs-annual-report-and-accounts

Overseas Companies: Malawi

Jim Shannon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to change the terms of tax conditions for UK multinational companies operating in Malawi.

Mr David Gauke: The taxation of UK companies operating in Malawi is governed by Malawian domestic tax law, where necessary modified by the terms of the UK/Malawi double taxation tax treaty. Negotiations between the two countries on a replacement treaty are substantially complete and the Malawian government has stated that it hopes to be in a position to sign the new treaty in the near future.

Tonnage Tax

Ian Mearns: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the change in tax liabilities for shipping companies in the tonnage tax scheme in (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016 to date.

Mr David Gauke: HMRC publishes the estimated reduction in tax liabilities accrued by the UK Shipping Industry through the tonnage tax regime for 2012-13 to 2015-16. These are available at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/487119/Dec15_expenditure_reliefs_Final.xlsx.pdf Tax returns are not yet available for 2016, the estimate for 2015/16 is the latest available.

Trident Submarines: Costs

Emily Thornberry: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what procedures his Department has in place to monitor any changes in the estimated cost of the Successor submarine programme subsequent to the publication of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015.

Emily Thornberry: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what procedures his Department had in place to monitor any changes in estimates of the cost of the Successor submarine programme during preparations for his Budget statement in March 2016.

Greg Hands: The Treasury maintains a regular and frequent dialogue with the Ministry of Defence over the costs of all significant elements of defence spending, including the Successor programme.

Welfare Tax Credits

Melanie Onn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have had their tax credit payments stopped as a result of in-year adjustments in the last 12 months.

Damian Hinds: The latest published National Statistics for 2013/14 can be accessed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/430537/cwtc_Finalised_annual_awards_2013-14_SupplementPayments.pdf

Productivity

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what definition the Government uses of productivity.

Greg Hands: The government uses a number of measures to examine productivity, looking at output per hour, output per worker and output per job. While the measure used will depend upon the circumstances, output per hour is generally regarded as the best measure.

Owner Occupation and Personal Savings

Nigel Mills: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to support (a) people with savings and (b) home ownership.

Harriett Baldwin: 400,000 people have already opened a Help to Buy: ISA to buy their first home. At Budget 2016 the Chancellor also announced a Lifetime ISA which can be used by people under 40 to save for their first home and retirement.

Business: Government Assistance

Rishi Sunak: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps he is taking to support businesses.

Damian Hinds: The Government wants low taxes, but taxes that are paid. We are cutting corporation tax to 17%, the lowest rate in the G20, reducing the business rates burden in England by £6.7bn over 5 years, and acting on avoidance to ensure a level playing field for all businesses.

Personal Income

Jack Lopresti: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps he is taking to help people keep more of their earnings.

Harriett Baldwin: At Budget 2016 the Government increased the personal allowance to £11,500 and raised the higher rate threshold to £45,000 in 2017-18. 31 million people will pay less tax after these changes, with a typical basic rate taxpayer paying over £1,000 less income tax in 2017-18 than in 2010-11.

Business: Government Assistance

Lucy Frazer: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps he is taking to support businesses.

Damian Hinds: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to the Hon Member for Richmond (Yorks) during Treasury oral questions on 19 April 2016.

Average Earnings and Inflation

Andrew Stephenson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what comparative assessment he has made of trends in the level of wage growth and inflation.

Damian Hinds: Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in the three months to January, Real Average Weekly Earnings grew 2 percent compared to a year earlier. Wage growth has outstripped inflation for 16 consecutive months. And the OBR forecast wages to grow faster than inflation in each of the next five years.

Tax Havens: Multinational Companies

Callum McCaig: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on requiring multinational companies to disclose to the public the profits they hold in tax havens (a) in British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies and (b) elsewhere.

Mr David Gauke: I refer the Hon Member to the answer that the Chancellor gave to the Hon Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Ali Rushanara) during Treasury oral questions on 19 April 2016.

Air Ambulance Services: Northern Ireland

Tom Elliott: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether funding for an air ambulance in Northern Ireland announced in the Budget 2016 will be provided to Air Ambulance NI or the Northern Ireland Executive's Department of Health, Social Security and Public Safety.

Greg Hands: At Budget 2016 the Chancellor committed £4.5 million from banking fines to help establish a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service for Northern Ireland, following a bid from the ‘Air Ambulance Northern Ireland’ charity, who will be the ultimate recipient of the funding. The Treasury is currently working with the charity and the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that this critical lifesaving service is up and running as soon as is practically possible

Owner Occupation and Personal Savings

Christopher Pincher: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to support (a) people with savings and (b) home ownership.

Harriett Baldwin: 400,000 people have already opened a Help to Buy: ISA to buy their first home. At Budget 2016 the Chancellor also announced a Lifetime ISA which can be used by people under 40 to save for their first home and retirement.

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Maria Caulfield: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to reform the valuation of business rates.

Greg Hands: The Budget confirmed that the government will aim to deliver more frequent revaluations. A discussion paper setting out options to deliver this was published last month and can be found on gov.uk. I would encourage those who may be effected to make their views known.

Members Estimate Committee

UK Independence Party: Short Money

John Glen: To ask the Rt. hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the Members Estimate Committee, how much Short money the UK Independence Party has claimed since May 2015; and on what dates those payments were made to that party.

Tom Brake: The amount of Short money available to UKIP for 2015/16 since the May general election was £605,871. The amounts claimed and paid were as follows: Date Paid Amount 24 August 2015£14,833.0028 September 2015£16,434.6814 October 2015£128,034.1628 October 2015£31,870.3625 November 2015£31,870.3621 December 2015£31,870.3627 January 2016£31,870.3624 February 2016£31,870.3628 March 2016£31,870.36Total£350,574.00

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Fracking

Michelle Donelan: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what protections the Government has put in place to ensure that historic towns are not adversely affected by shale gas extraction.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Carbon Emissions

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will estimate the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that have been saved in each year since on-shore wind farms have been commercially deployed in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The table attached shows the amount of carbon dioxide emissions estimated to have been saved in each year since onshore wind farms have been commercially deployed in the UK. This is calculated as the amount of generation from onshore wind multiplied by the carbon dioxide emissions factor for the fossil fuel mix for the corresponding year. NB. Data for 1990 to 1995 are not available, so the 1996 emissions factor has been used; data for 2015 are not yet available, so 2014 has been used. Sources:Onshore wind generation, 1990-2014: Digest of UK Energy Statistics, table DUKES 6.1.1, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/renewable-sources-of-energy-chapter-6-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukesOnshore wind generation, 2015: Energy Trends table ET 6.1, available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-trends-section-6-renewablesCarbon Dioxide emissions factors (all fossil fuels): DUKES 2015 Chapter 5, Table 5D, available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/electricity-chapter-5-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes



Question 34013 - Carbon emissions table
(Word Document, 15.88 KB)

Nuclear Reactors

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many small nuclear reactors her Department plans to order over the Spending Review 2015 period.

Andrea Leadsom: Small modular reactors (SMRs) are a relatively new technology for civil nuclear power generation and whilst a small number of bespoke “small” reactors have been built and operated, no true SMRs have yet reached demonstration or deployment. At Autumn Statement 2015 Government announced it would launch a competition to identify the best value SMR design for the UK. In March 2016 the first phase of the competition was launched. This phase will include structured engagement with technology developers, utilities, potential investors, funders and other parties interested in developing, commercialising and financing SMRs in the UK to inform subsequent stages of the competition. This is the beginning of a process that will enable bids from interested parties in subsequent phases of the competition. As we are still in the early stages of the competitive process no decision has yet been made on a potential SMR design or levels of deployment.

Cabinet Office

Electoral Register

Grahame Morris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost of supporting electoral registration by (a) local authorities and (b) other groups was in each of the last 10 years.

John Penrose: Since financial year 2012/13 the Cabinet Office has provided funding to local authorities and civil society organisations to support the implementation and delivery of Individual Electoral Registration. Prior to financial year 2010/11 electoral registration policy was under the remit of the Ministry of Justice. The Cabinet Office does not hold any relevant financial data prior to 2010.Local Authorities are under a statutory obligation to provide Electoral Registration Officers with funding and resources to support electoral registration more generally. Local Authorities are funded from a block grant that is allocated by the Department for Communities and Local Government.The table below notes the funding provided by the Cabinet Office to local authorities and other groups and organisations in Great Britain. This includes core funding to support local authorites in the transition to IER, and the upgrade of hardware, such as printers, to support the new A3 registration forms .The figures also include funding that was allocated to local authorities and other groups to support efforts to increase levels of registration between financial years 2010/11 and 2015/16. 2010-20112011-20122012-132013-142014-152015-16TotalLocal Authorities£0£0£0£9,115,416£39,537,279£25,858,168£74,510,862Other Groups£0£0£56,545£216,247£1,933,759£0£2,191,401

Prison Service: Scotland

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department took to inform prison officers in Scotland of the transfer of Civil Service Employee Pensions from the Classic to the Alpha Scheme.

Gavin Newlands: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what consultations his Department had with (a) the Scottish Prison Service, (b) Scottish Ministers and (c) the Prison Officers Association on the transfer of Prison Officers' Pensions from Classic to the Alpha Pension Scheme.

Matthew Hancock: Prison Officers employed in the Scottish Prison Service are members of the Civil Service. All members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) who transitioned into the Civil Service (and Others) Pension Scheme (CSOPS, also known as alpha) were notified by letter to inform them of the change, in accordance with the Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes (Disclosure of Information) Regulations. In addition, relevant Employers were provided with a variety of communication products to inform their staff and support those who needed to make decisions. These were also held on the Civil Service Pensions website.Between 2011 and 2015 Cabinet Office Ministers and officials held extensive discussions with all of the Civil Service unions, including the Prison Officers’ Association, on the detail of the pension reforms. There was also discussion with both the Scottish Prison Service and National Offender Management Service on the detail of the pension offer to operational staff in Prisons.The Civil Service is a Reserved Matter and this includes pensions for all Civil Servants. Representations on the pension age of Scottish Prison Officers were made to me by the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice in July last year. I replied later that month.

Cabinet Office: Resignations

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of officials of his Department resigned in each of the last six years.

Matthew Hancock: The table below sets out how many and what proportion of permanent officials in my Department resigned in each of the last six years.Year Headcount % of Workforce10/11 43 2.6%11/12 32 1.8%12/13 48 2.5%13/14 56 2.6%14/15 48 2.1%15/16 76 3.5%

Corruption

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 April 2016 to Question 32149, on what page in the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts the specific costs incurred by the Government's Anti-Corruption Champion are set out.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse has been of travel overseas by the Government's Anti-Corruption Champion during the course of his duties.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



Overseas travel costs for the Anti-Corruption Champion will be included in the next Cabinet Office annual report and accounts, which will be published on GOV.UK in due course.There were no costs incurred by the Cabinet Office for the Anti-Corruption Champion in the latest annual report and accounts published. Any costs covered by the Cabinet Office for the Anti-Corruption Champion will be included in the next report which will be published on GOV.UK in due course.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Steven Paterson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Departments are involved in the national security checking of the text of the Iraq Inquiry report.

Steven Paterson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who is leading the team which will undertake the national security checking of the text of the Iraq Inquiry report.

Steven Paterson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what criteria will be used to decide what material will be redacted from the Iraq Inquiry report during the national security checking process.

Steven Paterson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many officials will be involved in the national securing checking of the text of the Iraq Inquiry report.

Matthew Hancock: The following Departments will be involved in National Security checking: Cabinet Office, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and the Intelligence Agencies.National Security checking will ensure that the Government meets its obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights so that on publication the lives or safety of individuals are not put at risk. It will also ensure that publication of the report will not compromise national security.

Tax Havens

Imran Hussain: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that Government (a) departments and (b) contractors do not make use of tax havens.

Matthew Hancock: Procurement Policy Note 03/14 sets out the scope, background and detailed guidance for the policy of using the procurement process to promote tax compliance:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0314-promoting-tax-complianceThe 2015 Public Contract Regulations introduced a new obligation for public bodies to exclude suppliers from a procurement where the supplier has been found guilty of breaching its obligations in relation to payment of taxes and this has been established by a judicial or administrative decision having final effect within the relevant jurisdiction.

Crown Dependencies: Companies

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the contribution by the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East of 23 February 2016, Official Report, when the fully accessible public register of beneficial ownership in UK Crown dependencies will be complete.

Matthew Hancock: I refer the hon. Member to the Oral Statement given by the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) on 11 April 2016, Official Report, column 23. https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2016-04-11/debates/1604111000001/PanamaPapers#contribution-1604116000104

Trident Submarines

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many members of staff of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority have been assigned to work on the Government's Successor submarine programme; and what (a) their grades, (b) their job titles and (c) the dates of their assignment to work on that programme are.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



The Successor programme is one of 188 projects reported on the Government Major Project Portfolio (GMPP) at the time of the last Major Projects Annual Report. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority undertakes a number of activities across the 188 major projects on the GMPP, including collecting quarterly programme performance data; the arrangement of independent assurance; and, providing expert advice to project and departmental leadership. These activities do not involve the assignment of individual IPA staff to work on this project specifically, but are undertaken by a number of staff working in a range of functions across the IPA.

Commission On Freedom of Information

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what timetable he has set for publication of information on the cost to the public purse of the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



The final costs for the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information are currently being assembled and I expect to be able to publish the information shortly.

Government Departments: Procurement

Frank Field: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Government recorded in his Department's spending analysis tool that it spent on acquisitions from external suppliers in the last year for which figures are available; and how much and what proportion of central government spending the Government spent with each of the 20 suppliers which received the largest proportion of that spending in that period.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 18 April 2016



In 2014-15 central government (excluding Network Rail) spent a total of £43.8 billion with external suppliers. Recorded expenditure with each of the top 20 suppliers is set out in the following table: Spend% of totalBae Systems Plc£3.3bn7.6%Hewlett Packard Ltd£1.3bn2.9%Babcock International Group£1.2bn2.7%Awe Management Limited£1.1bn2.4%Capgemini Uk Plc£900m2.1%Capita Plc£700m1.6%Finmeccanica Spa£690m1.6%Rolls-Royce Plc£650m1.5%Telereal Trillium£640m1.5%BT Group Plc£620m1.4%Airtanker Limited£490m1.1%Atos£490m1.1%The Boeing Company£460m1.1%Qinetiq Limited£440m1.0%Connect Ltd£430m1.0%Serco Limited£400m0.9%Thales Group£380m0.9%Interserve Plc£350m0.8%Airwave Solutions£340m0.8%Carillion Plc£330m0.7%

Anti-corruption Summit

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to invite representatives from the Scottish government and its agencies to the Anti-Corruption Summit being held in London in May 2016.

Matthew Hancock: The Anti-Corruption Summit will bring together representatives from across the UK to discuss how we can drive forward our response to corruption.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Bees

Rebecca Pow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the threat of the small hive beetle and the Asian hornet to the British bee population.

George Eustice: Defra’s Pest Risk Analysis for the small hive beetle, including an assessment of its potential impact, has been published and can be found at www.nationalbeeunit.com/downloadDocument.cfm?id=945. The species risk analysis for the Asian hornet is also available online at www.nonnativespecies.org/downloadDocument.cfm?id=643. With the establishment of the Asian hornet in south-west France and its spread into northern France alongside the Channel, as well as the presence of the small hive beetle in southern Italy, the National Bee Unit has increased the number of risk based exotic pest inspections. It routinely provides advice and training to beekeepers to raise awareness of the threat and the need for vigilance.

Floods: Insurance

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made with the insurance industry on the development of a Flood Re scheme for small businesses.

Rory Stewart: We are aware that some small businesses exposed to high flood risk may experience challenges in finding affordable insurance. We are therefore working with BIS, local authorities, the insurance industry and other business representatives to further understand what problems the business sector may be experiencing in this area and to discuss the options available for taking action. Ministers have recently held meetings with representatives from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), Federation of Small Businesses and the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) among others to discuss these issues. Following this BIBA is developing a commercial insurance product that is intended to help businesses in flood risk areas to access appropriate cover. In the meantime the ABI have assured Government that the industry will continue to provide insurance to small businesses on a competitive basis.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Mr Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when it is planned Dartmoor Farmers who farm on common land will receive payments under the Basic Payment Scheme; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: For those Basic Payment Scheme claims with commons, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has faced a particularly difficult challenge as it is necessary to wait until all claimants for a common have had their commons rights validated before the area for each commoner can be established. RPA is working to make the payments for claimants who have not been paid as promptly as possible, including the Dartmoor farmers who farm on Common land.

Litter: Beaches

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what further steps she plans to take under the National Litter Strategy to reduce the number of bottles on beaches.

Rory Stewart: The National Litter Strategy will promote concerted, coordinated and effective actions to reduce litter and littering on land, which in turn should lead to a reduction in the amount of litter reaching local areas, including our beaches. To develop the National Litter Strategy we are working with a range of interested stakeholders, including representatives of the packaging industry. The Scottish Government is taking forward further work on the specific issue of a deposit return system for single-use drinks containers such as plastic bottles, and we will review any new evidence arising from this in the course of developing our own National Litter Strategy for England. However, in the meantime, we will continue to focus on improving existing waste collection and recycling systems for these items. In the UK, packaging producers who put more than 50 tonnes of packaging materials on the market a year, and have an annual turnover of more than £2 million, are required to recover and recycle a proportion of their packaging waste. As a result, most major bottle manufacturers and retailers who sell bottles pick up a financial obligation to recycle their packaging waste. More stringent recycling and recovery targets across the years led to a decrease in the proportion of bottles ending up in landfill and in litter. We will continue to focus on improving this system in future years. The UK Marine Strategy Part Three, published in December last year, sets out the actions we are taking to improve the marine environment. It covers measures that contribute to reducing sources of litter, including sources of beach litter, and to remove what has already reached our beaches. Actions related specifically to UK beaches include Defra-funded beach cleaning schemes on priority beaches.

Animal Welfare: Crime

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help tackle serious cases of animal cruelty.

George Eustice: In this country we have one of the most comprehensive pieces of legislation anywhere in the world to protect animals. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is an offence either to cause any captive animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for its welfare needs. The maximum penalty is 6 months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. The financial element of the penalty was raised only last year from a maximum fine of £20,000. Courts can also disqualify offenders found guilty of animal cruelty from keeping animals for as long a period as they consider appropriate. The overwhelming majority of people in this country are responsible but in circumstances where cruelty does occur I believe we have the necessary measures for enforcement agencies and courts to take action.

Department of Health

Palliative Care: Expenditure

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent by clinical commissioning groups on palliative care for (a) children and young people and (b) adults in each of the last three years.

Ben Gummer: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is shown in the following table.Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Expenditure on End of Life Care, 2013/14 (£ millions)All CCGs in England472.75Source: Programme Budgeting Collection, NHS EnglandNotes:CCG expenditure on end of life care was collected for the first time on an experimental basis as part of the 2013/14 Programme Budgeting Collection. The data is published in the Programme Budgeting benchmarking tool on the NHS England website at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/resources/resources-for-ccgs/prog-budgeting/ Data for 2014/15 is currently being collected and is not yet available.“End of life care” expenditure in this data collection refers to expenditure on specialist palliative care and hospice care only and does not include a breakdown between palliative care spend on children and young people’s care and palliative care spend for adult care.Data quality: The Programme Budgeting Collection currently contains experimental data. The quality of the data included in the Programme budgeting collection varies by CCG and certain CCGs’ data quality issues may have an impact on the ability to benchmark expenditure with other CCGs. Full details of data quality for each CCG are available on the NHS England website at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/resources/resources-for-ccgs/prog-budgeting/Data on palliative care spend was not collected in 2011/12 and 2012/13 or previous programme budgeting data collections.

Human Embryo Experiments

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the publication of the Home Office Guidance on the use of Human Materials in Animals Advice Note 01/16, what the process will be for receiving comments from the public on applications to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for a licence to carry out research using human admixed embryos before a decision on awarding such licences is made.

Jane Ellison: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that the Home Office guidance on the use of Human Materials in Animals was published in January 2016. The guidance provides information on the steps necessary to obtain a research licence from the HFEA. There is no requirement in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as amended, for the HFEA to seek the views of the public when considering applications for a research licence. Currently, the HFEA does not invite comments from the public on applications for a research licence. This will be reviewed in the 2016/17 business year.

Health: Innovation

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding has been provided to health innovation networks in each year since their creation; and how much funding he plans to provide to these networks in each of the next five years.

George Freeman: The Health Innovation Network is the Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) for South London and one of the 15 AHSNs that cover England. Information is provided for the Health Innovation Network and for all 15 AHSNs. Future funding is being determined by NHS England. NHS England funding for the 15 AHSNs (£ millions) 1, 2YearHealth Innovation NetworkAll AHSNs2013/144.456.32014/153.653.62015/163.048.22016/172.538.1Source: NHS England Notes:1 AHSNs were established in 2013 by NHS England and awarded a five year licence. 2016/17 is the fourth year of the licence.2 Since 2014/15, AHSNs have received funding to host Patient Safety Collaboratives, which is not included in these figures.

Department of Health: Resignations

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of officials of his Department resigned in each of the last six years.

Jane Ellison: The information requested is presented in the table below:Financial Year Officials LeftNumber of ResignationsProportion of total staff2010-11843%2011-12552%2012-13954%2013-14955%2014-15754%2015-16914%The numbers given are for civil servants only. These figures include employees, loans-in from other Government Departments and fixed-term appointments.The proportion of staff who resigned is calculated by the total number of resignations in the financial year indicated, divided by the total headcount as at the 31 March of that year.

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust: Standards

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will undertake a review of the effectiveness of the operation and governance of the South East Coast Ambulance Service.

Jane Ellison: Monitor, the then independent regulator of National Health Service foundation trusts announced on 28 October 2015 that it was taking action against South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust after the trust ran a project between December 2014 and February 2015 that increased how long some patients were waiting for ambulances. Monitor’s requirements included the development of three reviews; the first was a forensic review of the project itself which was undertaken by Deloitte and the report was subsequently published on 15 March 2016; the second was a wider governance review, and the third a comprehensive patient impact study which is subject to a separate, clinically-led independent review currently underway. This review is due to be concluded this summer and published in due course.Monitor used its regulatory powers to secure the appointment of Sir Peter Dixon as the new interim chair at the trust, following the resignation of its Chair Tony Thorne on 15 March 2015.From 1 April 2016 Monitor became part of NHS Improvement who has confirmed that it is providing constructive challenge to the foundation trust on the content of an agreed action plan and continues to hold the trust board to account for delivery of that plan via usual regulatory meetings.

NHS Property Services: Standards

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will undertake a review of the effectiveness of the operations and governance of NHS Property Services.

George Freeman: NHS Property Services Ltd is a limited company that is fully owned by the Secretary of State for Health. Review of the effectiveness of its operations is an ongoing process by the company’s Board, which includes a Departmental senior civil servant as a Director, and by officials in the Department’s Commercial Division. Minsters have no plans for any further review of the company’s operations at this time. With regard to its governance, the company undertook a review of its corporate governance in 2014 to align itself more closely to UK Corporate Governance Code 2014, which applies to listed companies. This resulted in the introduction, during the year, of new Nomination and Facilities Management Committees.

Prostate Cancer: Diagnosis

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps he has taken to reduce prostate cancer in men through early diagnosis.

Jane Ellison: The UK National Screening Committee has examined and consulted on the international peer reviewed evidence regarding prostate cancer screening. In January 2016 the committee recommended against a systematic population screening programme for prostate cancer. More information can be found at:http://legacy.screening.nhs.uk/prostatecancerPublic Health England ran a local pilot campaign in October – November 2014, specifically targeting prostate cancer within Black African-Caribbean men, because of their significantly increased risk of developing prostate cancer. The campaign ran in six London boroughs – Hackney, Haringey, Newham, Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham – and was delivered mainly through face to face activity, supported by posters in key outdoor locations and in salons and a programme of targeted public relations.The campaign was delivered in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK and was designed to support their awareness raising activity.

Children: Visual Impairment

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Government will implement the recommendations made in the Time to Move report published by Blind Children UK in February 2016 to improve the number of children with sight loss who receive rehabilitation training.

Jane Ellison: The Children and Families Act 2014 requires local authorities to work with children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), and their parents, to develop a Local Offer of the services they have or expect to be available to children and young people with SEND, including those with visual impairment. As such, it is for local authorities, in consultation with children and young people with SEND and their families, to decide which services they offer in their area, which can include habilitation training.At a national level, the Department for Education has funded a partnership of charities through the National Sensory Impairment Partnership to help local authorities to compare their services, learn from the best in the country and make sure that services for blind children and their families (as well as those with other sensory impairments) are effective and meet local needs.In 2013/14 the Department of Health provided funding to Blind Children UK for their three year project training eight students for the Diploma in Habilitation Studies at the UCL Institute of Education. Officials have met with Blind Children UK recently as part of their engagement with key organisations which represent the interests of children and young people with complex needs.

Epilepsy

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients had epilepsy in the UK in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: Information concerning the number of people diagnosed with epilepsy in each of the last five years is not collected.

Brivaracetam

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the epileptic drug Briviact will be available on the NHS.

George Freeman: Briviact (brivaracetam) became available on the National Health Service following its launch in the United Kingdom in February 2016. It is for clinicians to decide whether to prescribe it to patients.In the absence of guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence it is for commissioners to make decisions on whether to fund new medicines based on an assessment of the available evidence, such as clinical trials or peer-reviewed publications.

Prescription Drugs: Misuse

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Government plans to introduce a national helpline for sufferers of prescribed drug dependence.

Jane Ellison: Anyone who is concerned that they may be dependent on medicines which have been prescribed to them, can get advice from their general practitioner, a community pharmacist, the 111 helpline or the on-line NHS Choices service: http://www.nhs.uk/pages/home.aspx In addition, the Government’s drugs information service, Talk to FRANK, also provides advice on how to access specialist drug treatment services, including services which help people who have a dependence on a medicine prescribed to them.

Supported Housing: Older People

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits of supported housing in helping older people with support needs to live independently and stay out of hospital.

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the potential benefits of supported housing in helping people with acute mental illnesses recover and live independently.

Alistair Burt: The Department has made no formal assessment of the potential benefits of supported housing in helping older people with support needs and those living with acute mental illness to live independently. However, the Department’s work in this area is underpinned by a variety of evidence – including a report commissioned by the Homes and Communities Agency, Financial benefits of investment in specialist housing for vulnerable and older people (2010), which provides a useful overview. This is based on a review of literature, and is split by different client groups including older people and those living with a mental health condition.

Formaldehyde

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2016 to Question 31000, what assessment the NHS has made of the potential causal link between formaldehyde contained in everyday products and eczema and other atopic conditions.

Jane Ellison: The National Health Service has made no such assessment.The NHS has to comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). This applies in the workplace when hazardous substances are manufactured, used or where processes are undertaken that generate hazardous substances. COSHH requires the employer to carry out a risk assessment to establish what, if any, hazards are associated with products/processes employees are using/undertaking and then put measures in place to control exposure to those hazards.

Epilepsy: Death

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will commission a National Clinical Audit of avoidable deaths in epilepsy.

Jane Ellison: The Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership commissions, develops and manages the National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme (NCAPOP), on behalf of NHS England, Wales and other devolved administrations. Whilst there is no specific audit planned that covers all cases of avoidable deaths from epilepsy, the following NCAPOP audits and reviews are of relevance:- The audit for paediatric epilepsy, which is being re-commissioned this year, covers the quality of health care services for children and young people with epilepsy in the United Kingdom. The audit is managed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and the first audit report can be found at the following link:www.rcpch.ac.uk/news/variation-care-children-epilepsy-revealed-first-uk-wide-audit- The 2013 review report into cases of mortality and prolonged seizures in children and young people with epilepsies that was managed by the RCPCH. The report is available at the following link:www.rcpch.ac.uk/child-health-reviews-uk/programme-findings/programme-findings-chr-uk- The recently commissioned national mortality case record review programme for England and Scotland which aims to improve understanding and learning about problems in care that may have contributed to a patient’s death:www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/rcp-hosts-pioneering-national-mortality-case-record-review-programme- The maternal, newborn and infant clinical outcome review programme will be undertaking a review of cases of mortality and morbidity for pregnant women with severe epilepsy that will report in December 2017. This will be carried out by MBRRACE-UK at the University of Oxford. Further information can be found at the following link:www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/mbrrace-uk/topic-proposals

Social Services: Training

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the minimum standards required to practice as a care worker are; and what steps he is taking to ensure online training courses in care work are regularly assessed and adequate to meet those requirements.

Ben Gummer: All providers of health or adult social care activities that fall under the supervision of the Care Quality Commission have a legal duty to ensure that all staff working to provide those activities have the qualifications, competence, skills and experience necessary for the work to be performed. Health and social care support workers should meet the Care Certificate standards. The Certificate comprises 15 standards that cover the fundamental skills, knowledge and behaviours that are required to provide safe, effective and compassionate care. The Care Certificate contains practical components that must be completed. There are a number of online commercial Care Certificate training products that do not make this clear. Health Education England and Skills for Care are working on online training materials to provide a free-of-charge and authoritative alternative to the current commercial offerings.

Health Visitors: Halton

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many health visitors were employed in Halton constituency in each year since 2010.

Ben Gummer: The data is not available in the format requested. The information for National Health Service organisations covering the Halton area is shown in the table below.NHS Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): Qualified Health Visitors in Halton by specified organisation as at 30 September for each specified year and as at 31 December 2015Full-time Equivalent 201020112012201320142015Dec-15All Specified Organisations471452002122292462505 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust....4140404646Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust..99156169185199203Halton and St Helens Primary Care Trust47463........NHS Halton Clinical Commissioning Group......3411Notes:'..' denotes not applicable.Full time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.Data Quality:The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where changes impact on figures already published, this is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.Monthly Data:Following a public consultation in 2015, categorisation of trusts and staff groups has changed therefore restricting comparability with previous publications. Because of these changes, these statistics are classed as experimental.More details regarding these changes can be found in the outcomes of the consultation document available at the link below:http://www.hscic.gov.uk/hchsSource:Health and Social Care Information Centre, Provisional NHS HCHS monthly workforce statistics.

NHS: Staff

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has received any representations from NHS staff who feel they are being harassed outside NHS buildings by protesters.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure patients accessing NHS abortions in England are not harassed by protestors outside NHS hospitals.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure NHS staff in England are not harassed by protestors outside hospitals.

Ben Gummer: There have been no representations from National Health Service staff who feel they are being harassed outside NHS buildings by protesters.Although protesters are democratically entitled to make their views known on abortion and other issues and can do so outside NHS hospitals and other NHS buildings, we would condemn any harassment of NHS staff, patients and others. We would expect NHS trusts, as responsible for providing a safe environment for all using their facilities, to work with the Police and other agencies as appropriate to ensure they have adequate arrangements in place to prevent harassment of staff and patients. If staff are subject to criminal activity such as physical assaults, these should be reported so that employers can take appropriate action.Currently, NHS trusts have access to Security Incident Reporting Systems which helps NHS Protect measure the nature and scale of security incidents across the NHS, not just those involving physical assaults on staff but also those involving non-physical abuse and theft of/damage to NHS assets.

Occupational Health

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the number of businesses which have a mental health workplace policy.

Alistair Burt: The information is not collected centrally. Public Health England endorses the Workplace Wellbeing Charter National Award for England which is a scheme that recognises the commitment of organisations to promoting wellbeing in the workplace. Over 1,000 organisations in England hold the award.

Tuberculosis: Vaccination

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason there was a shortage of the BCG vaccine in 2015; and what steps his Department is taking so that such shortages do not occur in the future.

Jane Ellison: The supply of United Kingdom licensed Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine continues to be subject to intermittent manufacturing problems, which have impacted deliveries of vaccine into the UK. This delay has resulted in the depletion of the UK buffer stock and impacted onward supply to the National Health Service in 2015. The NHS remains subject to periods of intermittent supply.This is in the context of a global shortage of BCG vaccine where Public Health England (PHE) and the Department are actively engaging alternative manufacturers of BCG vaccine to secure supply during this period of disruption as quickly as possible. PHE continues to provide prioritisation advice to healthcare professionals during the period of constrained supply.

Blood: Contamination

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the average change in the level of financial support given to a person over (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 30 years under his Department's proposals to reform financial support for people affected by HIV or hepatitis C through treatment with NHS-supplied blood or blood products if compensation is not linked to inflation.

Jane Ellison: The proposal to uncouple the link between annual payments and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was contained in in the consultation document “Infected Blood: Reform of financial and other support”. The aim of this proposal was to provide certainty about the amount of the annual payment and no estimation of the average change in the payments made to an individual claimant was made. No decisions have yet been made and details of the shape and structure of a reformed scheme, including the link to the CPI, will be decided following the end of the public consultation, which closed on 15 April.

NHS Leadership Academy

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance he provides to the NHS Leadership Academy on the selection of candidates.

Ben Gummer: The Department does not provide specific guidance to the Leadership Academy on the selection of candidates.

Autism: Southampton

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in Southampton were diagnosed with autism in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support his Department provides to people with autism.

Alistair Burt: The Department co-ordinates the Cross Government Autism Strategy originally published as Fulfilling and Rewarding Lives in 2010 and updated as Think Autism in 2014. The on-going actions of the strategy focus on assisting local implementation and multi-agency planning to deliver the aims of the 2009 Autism Act and help people with autism access services and support, and reach their potential. In support of the strategy, statutory guidance was co-ordinated by the Department and issued to local authorities and the National Health Service in 2010 and 2015.Figures on the numbers of people diagnosed with autism in different parts of the country are not collected centrally.

Chorley and South Ribble Hospital: Accident and Emergency Departments

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when (a) the fact of, (b) the reasons for and (c) consequences of shortages of staff at Chorley and South Ribble Accident and Emergency unit was first reported to (i) him, (ii) the Trust Board, (iii) Monitor, (iv) the Clinical Commissioning Group and (v) the Department of Health.

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust, working with a clinical commissioning group, has asked every GP in Lancashire if it can help cover the staff shortfall in that trust.

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps were taken to address the risk of staff shortages at Chorley and South Ribble Accident & Emergency unit; and when such steps were reported to (a) the Trust Board, (b) Monitor, (c) the clinical commissioning group and (d) his Department.

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what attempts have been made to begin a national media campaign to recruit doctors at Chorley and South Ribble District Hospital; and in which national papers that campaign was placed.

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust's Business Resilience Plan is to avoid acute shortages of staff at the Accident and Emergency department.

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust, working with a Clinical Commissioning Group, has worked with Medex or other private companies embedded within the HR department to recruit doctors.

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust has a Risk Register covering staffing at the Accident and Emergency department at Chorley and South Ribble District Hospital.

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Chief Executive of the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust has made a request to (a) the military and (b) the Cabinet Office to fully cover the 24 hour accident and emergency service at Chorley and South Ribble Accident & Emergency unit.

Ben Gummer: These are operational matters for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and we have written to Stuart Heys, Chair of the Trust informing him of the hon. Member’s questions. He will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Mental Health Services: Intersex

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many intersex people have been referred for or requested mental health support in England in each year since 2010; and how many clinical commissioning groups commission specialised mental health support for intersex (a) children and (b) adults.

Alistair Burt: This information is not collected centrally. The Health and Social Care Information Centre does not hold the data to answer this question as the identification of intersex people is not possible within the Mental Health Services Data Set.

Autism: Children

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time for children between referral for an autism diagnosis and first diagnostic appointment was in each clinical commissioning group and primary care trust area in each year since 2010.

Alistair Burt: The Department does not collect this information centrally.No formal statistics are collected of autism referrals, initial assessments or diagnoses. The Department does however commission Public Health England each year to carry out a self-assessment exercise with local authority areas on progress they are making in implementing the Autism Strategy for Adults in England.NHS England has almost completed a programme to visit clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to identify and share good practice in accessing timely autism diagnosis. NHS England with support from the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services has visited a selection of areas to talk to CCGs and local authorities about their Autism Diagnostic Care Pathways and post diagnostic support. A report on this work will go initially to the June meeting of the Cross Government Autism Programme Board.

Mental Health Services: Children

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average number of days was from referral to treatment in child and adolescent mental health services in each year since 2010.

Alistair Burt: This data has not been collected centrally before January 2016. However, in February this year for the first time the Health and Social Care Information Centre began collecting a range of data about children and young people’s use of secondary mental health services via the new Mental Health Services Dataset. This includes data on waiting times from referral to treatment in child and adolescent mental health services. Data quality and quantity will take time to build, but we expect a range of national reports to be developed during the course of 2016.

Drugs: Advisory Services

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review provision of the FRANK drug advice service to support reducing risks to young people.

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government takes to provide drug harm reduction information for young people and parents.

Jane Ellison: FRANK provides impartial, reliable and confidential information and advice about drug use. Public Health England (PHE) updates FRANK to reflect new and emerging patterns of drug use and is currently considering how best to enhance the service to remain in line with young people’s media habits and strengthen situational advice to reduce risks to young people.Local authorities are responsible for commissioning drug and alcohol education prevention and treatment services to young people and parents. PHE supports local authorities in this work by providing a range of supportive guidance and materials, as well as bespoke data, value for money tools, topical briefings, and advice on good practice.PHE is supporting a range of prevention and information programmes for young people and parents, including jointly funding Mentor UK’s Alcohol and Drug Education and Prevention Information Service which is a web-based platform for sharing information and resources aimed at schools and practitioners working in drug and alcohol prevention.PHE also provides Rise Above, an online social marketing programme that aims to reduce the uptake of risky behaviours, including drug taking, by young people aged 11-16. It aims to give them the skills required to make better decisions in ‘risky’ situations to delay and prevent them from engaging in exploratory behaviours.